I’m sure we’ll fill our days with some sort of activity but without any commitments on the calendar, I am excited for a weekend of doing whatever we want to do whenever we want to do it. To me, that looks like downtime at home, maybe a new kind of activity or experience with Chase, long walks with Sadie in the morning and early bedtimes. We sure do like to party it up around here, right!?
As I went to type up the title of this blog post, I realized we’re officially on our two hundredth Things I’m Loving Friday blog post. What!? So crazy! This post is quite often my favorite post of the week to write because it serves as a small way to remind me to smile about the little, and often seemingly mundane, things in life. And you know I love it when you tell me about something you’re loving every week in the comments section!
So let’s get to it… Number 200!!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- Clean Eating Magazine (Renewed!)
When it comes to finding easy, healthy recipes in a magazine, Clean Eating is absolutely my favorite. It’s packed with recipes that are simple (no crazy spices or ridiculously long ingredient lists) and when a magazine sale popped up on Zulily, I quickly renewed my subscription for the next two years. I always end up dog-earing a bunch of pages in each issue and my homemade recipe folder (comprised of recipes I print off the internet or tear out of magazines) is overflowing with more than a handful of recipes I’ve saved from this magazine. I actually made the Asian Burgers from the July issue for dinner last night and they were a big hit! I highly recommend this magazine to anyone looking for simple, healthy recipe inspiration delivered to your mailbox every month.
I’m not sure why it took me SO long to purchase a citrus juicer but I finally bought one at the beginning of the summer and it’s something I surprised myself by using ALL the time. I’m not sure why I hate juicing lemons and limes by hand… the mess? The fact that I never get that much juice out of the fruit and feel like I waste a lot of it? Whatever it is, I’m happy to report that juicing lemons and limes no longer feels like a pain. I use this juicer constantly to make marinades, salad dressings, curries and more. It’s so handy and as someone who figured I’d use it a few times a year, I’m happy to report that this juicer is now a kitchen staple I use multiple times a week.
- Arie as the Next Bachelor
What do you guys think of Arie as the Bachelor!? I saw headlines announcing his selection pop up yesterday and while I was moderately surprised that they didn’t pick Peter from Rachel’s season (I loved him!), I remember liking Arie from Emily’s season years ago. Truth be told, I don’t remember too much about him but my general feelings toward him are positive, so hopefully that’s a good sign. Thoughts???
- Latest Thrive Market Delivery
I’ve had a few of you request more Thrive Market delivery haul updates so I’m sharing my latest delivery today! I know I’m always on the lookout for new Thrive products to try and this week’s delivery included a bunch of our favorite staples and a few new-to-us goodies. This haul included everything from pouches and bars for Chase to maple syrup, collagen (Thrive Market has it for cheaper than anywhere else I’ve found), Eating Evolved coconut butter cups (cannot WAIT to try these – only 4 grams of sugar per cup!), Simple Mills pizza dough mix, organic worcestershire and fish sauces (both new for us), nuts, jerky sticks and more. And if you’re not a Thrive member yet but are interested in giving it a try, my referral link will give you 25% off your order! I regularly order everything from food and snacks to beauty and household products from Thrive Market. (I order many of our cleaning and laundry supplies from Thrive, too!)
- Friday Flashbacks
Pumpkin Icebox Cake (Too soon for pumpkin? Never!! This recipe is a sweet and creamy dessert that is easy to make and overflowing with cinnamon and pumpkin flavor. Simply whip up a batch of homemade cinnamon pumpkin whipped cream and layer it with Biscoff cookies for a festive fall dessert everyone will love!)
Total Body Workout: Arms, Legs, Abs, Cardio (A great at-home workout option if you have access to a set of dumbbells and a stability ball.)
- Around the Web
Food: Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Spaghetti Squash / Thai Cashew Coconut Rice / Ginger Peach Turkey Tenderloin / Apple Spice Amazeballs / Healthy Lettuce Wraps /
Fitness: Sculpted Arm Barre Workout / Core + Cardio + Upper Body Naptime Workout / Lower Body Dumbbell Workout
Question of the Day
What is one thing that is making you smile this week?
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One final note: as many of you know, I lived and worked in Florida for many years and like all of you, the Sunshine State and all of the people facing impact from Hurricane Irma this weekend are in my thoughts. I’m sending best wishes to any of you who are in the storm’s path or who have loved ones who are affected. Stay safe!!
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#200! Congrats! Hope you and the boys (and Sadie girl!) have a wonderful weekend… Why is it that these short weeks are often the most exhausting??
Happy 200!! I’m loving cooler mornings that feel so fresh, and make for perfect snuggling weather. When the weather turns, my husband and I like to sit on our front porch under blankets and enjoy our coffee in the morning.
Is that protein powder good? What flavor?
I loved Peter too! I heard he turned it down 🙁 Arie seems to like underage girls from what I’m hearing…he’s got quite the reputation out in Scottsdale. Tabloids will have a field day this season!
Really!? I didn’t know that about him!
Check out Reality Steve’s Twitter feed…
It took me way to long to buy a citrus juicer too and I literally probably use it everyday, lol.
And I didn’t even hear about Arie as the Bachelor, I watched that season, but don’t remember him, hmmm. Happy weekend enjoy some much needed relaxation!
I think he was in the final two with Jeff, the guy Emily ended up picking!
I’m definitely going to look for that magazine, those burgers sound delicious!
I can’t believe this is the 200th Things I’m Loving Friday! It does not seem like I’ve been reading them for 200 weeks now. One thing I’m loving this week is that my landlord is buying a new washer and dryer for us since the old washer broke and that it’ll be installed soon! 3 weeks without a washer is wayyy to long.
Have a great weekend Julie 🙂
I love our citrus juicer it is just convenient. Hope you have a great weekend!
Do you find that the recipes in Clean Eating are also diet-friendly? I loosely follow the Weight Watchers plan and I’m always on the lookout for recipes that are full of whole ingredients but don’t include a large amount of fat, calories, or carbs.
Yes! They use whole foods, clean ingredients (which you probably assumed from the magazine title) but the recipes aren’t focused on being “low calorie” — it’s more about healthy, clean ingredients but they do include nutrition facts with every recipe so you can absolutely pick and choose recipes that fit into your personal diet.
The Eating Evolved coconut butter cups are soooo goooood!! They somehow sneak their way into all of my Thrive Market orders. I also love the Red Boat fish sauce and have been using it constantly!
What kind of laundry detergent do you order from Thrive? I’m having a hard time finding one with less chemicals that actually leave our clothes smelling clean. Especially work out gear.
Have a relaxing weekend, Julie! Here in SC, we are going to be watching to see what happens with Hurricane Irma. Hoping for the best for everyone involved. Especially keeping those in Florida in our prayers! Hope your sweet family there is in good shape with their plans and will keep them all in my prayers as well.
I keep forgetting that icebox cake is a thing! We always had it growing up (my dad would make it for my mom’s bday since he didn’t/couldn’t bake lol). But we never made different varieties. I need to try this pumpkin one, yum!
Happy Friday 😀
Can’t believe it’s #200!! congrats 🙂
I can’t wait to try that pumpkin ice box cake – it’s finally fall and this morning was 45 degrees!
And I’m not sure what I think about Arie as the next bachelor…I really liked Peter too!
Are you watching Bachelor in Paradise?! Holy drama!
Congrats on 200 Things I’m Loving posts! Isn’t it funny how quickly things like that creep up? Anniversaries and birthdays seem to fly by even though each day feels full.
The news reports that we’ve been getting here in Canada from both Canadian and American TV channels look pretty scary. I’m hoping everyone is able to stay safe.
Is any of your family in Florida? So glad you all won’t be impacted with the storm!
ARIE?! I feel old saying I barely remember him! I think he was a little too girly for my personal taste in men, but hey–“everyone deserves a chance at love.” Hope you are all safe this weekend and not too much wind and rain gets to you!
I look forward to your Friday posts too! That and my weekly Starbucks treat round out my week so well! I’m kind of excited that they went back a few seasons to get Arie. It will be different than seeing someone who just went through the process last season. Hope your FL family is staying safe!
Happy Friday, Julie! Hope you enjoy your free weekend. Definitely worried about my parents and the folks in the line of the storm in Florida … but hoping for the best! Also — the ice box cake — I really need to make one of those one day!
So apparently Peter said no! That’s the rumor I heard 🙂 He’s too good for Bachelor anyways!
I didn’t watch Emily’s season, so I have no opinion on Arie – though he and I apparently have the same birthday, so he has that going for him in my eyes haha 😛 I’m really not too surprised that Peter isn’t the Bachelor, though. I definitely thought he was a shoe-in right up until he and Rachel broke up, since it really seemed like the whole reason they broke up was because he didn’t feel like he had had enough time with her to commit to marrying here (which, fair. I can’t say I’d necessarily be ready to get engaged to someone after dating them for eight weeks, especially when they’re dating 25 of my roommates in addition to me!). But if he’s not into the “date”-eight-weeks-then-get-engaged thing, I don’t think he’d be a good fit for the Bachelor. Though it *would* be dramatic if he had been the Bachelor and then didn’t propose to anyone at the end!
Because I’ve been following your blog since 2012, hearing all of the Irma updates all I could think was, “I hope Julie’s family is okay!” Praying for you and yours!
Congrats on 200! I’ve read all of them! Woo hoo! I feel like I ALWAYS get great ideas from your Friday posts (and all your other posts too). You live life to the fullest and it’s something that inspires me to do the same! So thank you!
Loving the look of those asian burgers, gonna have to give them a try! Low key weekends are THA best!
Arie will be a good choice – I remember thinking he was so much nicer than the woman he was pursuing at the time (I think that’s what I thought??) Anyhow, I think he’ll be a good bachelor. I looooooooove Peter too, but I think he was too heartbroken to shoot as early as they shoot for this next season. Plus, he doesn’t love how fast the courtship is on the show, and honestly that’s what makes me love him even more! I hope he finds love AND we get to see it, somehow! I want to follow his story and watch it unfold!
Looking forward to spending lots of relaxing time with my husband this weekend! The weather here is supposed to be insanely gorgeous (low 70’s and sunny). Happy weekend!
Happy 200! And a whole lot of nothing sounds like an excellent weekend, especially if you’re coming off of a busy week! What I’m loving this week is the drop in temps here in DC, which makes me love the afternoon walks with the pup so much more. I’m also still loving my homemade iced coffee concoction in the morning (the BEST) and taking some down time from rigorous workouts to give my body a bit of a rest. <3
Yay! Happy 200!! I’m not really sure how I feel about Arie being the new bachelor, like you I don’t really remember much about him…but I mean, they are takin’ it wayyyy back here right!? Hopefully it will be a good season though! One thing that is making me smile this week is that I started a new subbing position in a local elementary school and subbed yesterday and today and I SURVIVED! Hahahaha. It was definitely a challenge, those kiddos totally pushed my buttons, but it feels good to be done for the weekend! 😉 I hope you have a fabulous weekend, Julie!! Xoxo
I was hoping for Peter too! I do remember liking Arie when he was on Emily’s season, and I was rooting for him to be the Bachelor back then. I don’t remember much else about him either though! Hopefully he’ll be good!!
I LOVE my citrus juicer, and like you took way to long to realize I needed one. It’s my most used tool now! Have a great weekend!
I live in Jax and we have 4 citrus fruit trees in our yard! We have a huge juicer that is a metal stand that sits on our kitchen counter. We are ready for all our fruit to be ready soon this year!
NO on the spaghetti squash buffalo chicken thing. It was horrendous. Sorry for the honesty but figured I should let you know before you made it!
Eek! Really!!!? Good to know. I haven’t tried it yet but I’ll steer clear. Ha!
Game nights are the best! Our current 2 favorites are Sequence, works best with 4 people and Telestrations. It’s like a new and improved pictionary. Look it up on Amazon, I think your family would love them!
I love pumpkin icebox cake!
That Pumpkin Icebox Cake looks delicious!