Ryan and I really wanted to take Chase to the Georgia Aquarium before Ryder was born but it never happened because my nausea returned in full force at the very end of my pregnancy and was typically exacerbated by long car rides. My trip to Jacksonville with Ryder for my sister’s baby shower a couple of weeks ago gave me a little boost of confidence and reminded me that NOW is a good time to travel with a baby since it typically gets more challenging before it gets easier. We figured we should make the most of the end of the summer and booked a long weekend away. We are ready to explore!
If my Atlanta-area friends out there have any family-friendly recommendations to share (places to visit, restaurants to try, fun parks, etc.), please let me know. We’re staying right near the aquarium and hope to walk as many places as possible!
I’ll be sure to document our Atlanta adventures on the blog next week but until then, let’s stick to the usual around here and move right on into my weekly Things I’m Loving Friday post!
I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!
Things I’m Loving Friday
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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Ever since Ryder was born, I’ve been reading at a much slower pace than usual because I cannot seem to keep my eyes open for very long at night these days. Well something magical happened and I managed to feel a little more rested this week and flew through this book! The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo caught my eye because I was on the lookout for a novel that would be a bit of a departure from the suspenseful murder mysteries I’ve been reading this summer. When a blog reader recommended it a while back, I added it to my “must read” list and I’m so glad I did!
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo begins when Monique Grant, a talented but relatively unknown young writer, is selected by iconic actress Evelyn Hugo to write her biography. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime and one Monique is determined to do well. As Evelyn begins to tell her story to Monique, we learn all about her life, including the details behind her marriages and secret loves. The book is filled with scandal and I feel like it is only a matter of time before this one is scooped up and made into a movie.
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Daily Harvest Harvest Bowls + Smoothies
I’m not sure if it’s my Instagram feed or if all of you have seen Daily Harvest popping up all over the place as well but they’re killin’ it on the social media front. I swear they are everywhere! The company recently reached out to me about trying their frozen, unprocessed and unrefined food cups and since I was more than a little curious to see what all the hype was about, I enthusiastically awaited my delivery. Once I began preparing an assortment of their smoothies and harvest bowls, I quickly understood the reason everyone seems to love Daily Harvest. They make preparing healthy smoothies or savory produce-packed bowls a breeze!
I feel like most of the people I see using Daily Harvest are enjoying their smoothies and while all the smoothies I’ve made have been delicious (the mint cacao is my fav!), I’ve most enjoyed their harvest bowls for easy and nutritious lunches for one. (In addition to smoothies and harvest bowls, Daily Harvest also makes soups, overnight oats, chia parfaits and lattes.)
During this season of my life, I find myself struggling most with preparing healthy lunches for myself during the day. If we don’t have leftovers on hand from dinner, more often than not my lunch looks like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cereal or handfuls of whatever food I can quickly shove in my mouth. Daily Harvest’s harvest bowls have saved me numerous times and come packed with veggies, herbs and good-for-you ingredients. You can microwave the cups but I prefer pouring out the ingredients in the cups and making them on the stove top. In 4-6 minutes, I have a veggie-packed lunch ready for eating! I will often add some kind of protein to my harvest bowls like chickpeas, shredded chicken, black beans or salmon and absolutely LOVE them! If you’re curious to try the bowls for yourself, Daily Harvest passed along the code pbfingers to me to share with you guys and it will get you three free cups on your first order. Please take my word for it and make sure at least one harvest bowl makes it into your order if you decide to give them a try!
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Instacart + Waterloo Sparkling Water
After heading to the grocery store twice last week with two boys in tow, I gave myself a breather this week and opted to order our food for the week using Instacart. Gosh, I love that service so much! It’s the best and I am convinced that I save money when I use the service despite the delivery fee since I avoid impulse buys and only order exactly what’s on my list. One thing that almost always makes it on my list? Sparkling water! I enjoy trying new brands and flavors all the time and this week’s discovery deserves a shout out! Have you guys tried Waterloo Sparkling Water? I feel like it’s a little more flavorful than other sparkling waters out there and Ryan and I both gave the two flavors we tried this week — black cherry and watermelon — two enthusiastic thumbs up! My fellow bubbly water fans, keep them on on your radar!
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The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
My friend Leah is a go-to resource for me when it comes to new TV show recommendations and when she recommended The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel to me, I filed it away on my “must watch” list. It wasn’t until I saw Jen begin raving about it that I remembered the recommendation and began watching it last week. The show instantly hooked me and I’ve found myself enjoying it more and more with each episode that passes.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel follows Midge Maisel in the late 1950s as her seemingly perfect life takes an unexpected turn in more ways than one. It’s funny, entertaining and a show I find myself looking forward to watching on the days when Ryder isn’t sleeping well and I find myself spending an inordinate amount of time pacing around our family room on baby bouncing duty!
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Friday Flashbacks
One Pot Chicken Cabbage Bowl with Sesame Ginger Broth (We had some leftover shredded chicken on hand this week so I whipped up this recipe for dinner on Monday night. It’s always a winner and so, so flavorful!)
5-4-3-2-1 Bodyweight Workout (This workout includes picture tutorials and targets your whole body in a decreasing time format so it passes by in a flash!)
Question of the Day
What is one thing you are loving this week?
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The children’s museum is right by the aquarium. My 3 and 1 year old love it!
Loved The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel! Just watched it a few weeks ago when my husband went back to work after our baby was born and I needed some entertainment! Can’t wait for season 2!
Hey PBfingers! I’m an Atlanta girl and think it’s awesome you are venturing our way in the ATl this weekend. Be sure to just walk the Beltline. If goes right into Ponce City Market where there are TONS of restaurants. If you ride the elevator to the rooftop of the market, there is a carnival with games and such. Have fun!!!
I commented last week with some recommendations, but figured I’d pop in again now that you’re here! I’d really recommend leaving the downtown area to get a better feel for Atlanta. Virginia Highlands and Decatur are the cutest neighborhoods and much more fun for walking around. Butter & Cream in Decatur has the best ice cream.
ALSO Piedmont Park and the Botanical Gardens!
I just started watching Marvelous Mrs Maisel as well! Like you I’d heard about it and was interested, but forgot about it until Jen mentioned it on her blog. I’m keeping it as my dedicated treadmill running show and I cannot wait for my next workout. I loved Evelyn Hugo as well, I read it last year and when it’s been that long and I’m still thinking about the last line in the book, you know that’s a good read. Recently I read Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and The Death of Mrs Westaway and those were awesome reads if you’re looking for something new.
Eleanor Oliphant was one of my fav reads so far this year. Such a good book!!
Where did you find the Waterloo brand water? I would love to try it (especially the watermelon flavor!) but wondering which stores might carry it. Thanks!
Whole Foods!
I’ve been wanting to try Daily Harvest, I wish I could find them in stores near me. Have so much fun in Atlanta this weekend!
Congrats on making it to Atlanta with two little ones! Enough your weekend!! I’ve been watching Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as well (needed something to replace Hart of Dixie) and I hope there are new episodes soon 🙂
Love this! Is your trip this weekend by the aquarium sponsored? If you have time, and want to fork out your own cash, the Coco-Cola museum is awesome, and right by the aquarium! Try Varsity for amazing burgers and fries! Enjoy!
Thanks for the recommendations!! Chase is on a big-time burger kick so that sounds right up our alley. And nope, not sponsored travel at all. Just a family trip we’ve been dying to take together!
Hey I graduated from Georgia Tech a few years back and I definitely recommend Piedmont Park/the botanical gardens and walking the best line. Cyprus Street Pint and Plate, West Egg and Highland Pakery were my favorite brunch places, and they are all pretty close to downtown! Have a great time 🙂
Thanks so much for your insight! Piedmont Park is on our list — hoping to make it there this afternoon!
Hi! I’m an Atlanta girl over here and I definitely second the Ponce City Market recommendation (they have an arcade there!) and walking the beltline with the family! I would also recommend taking the kids to the zoo and there’s an exhibit at the Atlanta High Museum of the original Winnie Pooh illustrations and some replicas of the stuffed animals. Don’t know how long that will hold Chase’s attention but figured it was worth mentioning 🙂
As far as restaurants, there are so many good ones! Since you’re traveling with little ones, I would recommend Fritti for pizza and yummy Italian food, Jeni’s Ice Cream for some good ice cream, and Moxie Burger for their delicious hamburgers and variety of foods. They have a few locations.
I would say living on pb&j’s is great compared to how I was in that postpartum time. I was so unbelievably hungry, (probably from having an oversupply of breastmilk,) that I lived in drive thru’s. I spent more time in the drive thru in the first couple of months after having my baby than the entire rest of my life combined. And I don’t say that as an exaggeration, that’s literally true lol. I’m not someone who likes fast food, but I’ve never experienced hunger like that. Combined with being exhausted and having a baby that liked the car, it was a recipe for disaster. ChickFilA and Cookout definitely made a killing off me!
Your one pot chicken cabbage bowl is one of my regular dishes. If anyone out there hasn’t tried it, they should!
I LOVED Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. It’s so entertaining! Can’t wait for season 2. Enjoy the fun family weekend!!
I loved that book!! I really liked all of Reid’s books, but this one is above and beyond her best. The rest are more like fluffy beach reads, but with super interesting topics. One of the best feelings in the world is when someone else loves a book you recommend 🙂
If you like bread pudding, you must check out The Food Shoppe!! It is delicious and I still think about it all the time years later!!!! Have fun!!!
Piedmont Park is beautiful! As is the newly built belt line that will connect you to lots of cool places to eat. Being a Georgia tech grad I also have a love for all things WAFfle House and especially the WAHO on GT’s campus on 5th street
Hi Julie – I would love to do a family trip to Atlanta in the coming months so am eager to hear your recommendations. I hope you have a great time!
That cabbage bowl looks amazing!! And I need to get back to reading for sure. This sounds like a good one!
Fernbank natural history museum is super fun!
This week I’m loving your blog! I have a 2 week old baby boy who recently developed the gnarliest diaper rash…sonred and a little bloody. I remembered you talked about Ryder having this and found your post on triple cream. Just brought it home and I’m hoping it works!! Thanks!
I’m a pretty reasonable person when it comes to prices of food and I enjoy both going out and eating in, but i was utterly shocked when when i found out how expensive those d.h. smoothies are!
If you’re looking for a good park, Brook Run is amazing! Also recommend PDK airport. It is a small regional airport that has a park where you can watch small airplanes come in and take off. They also have a restaurant where you can watch the action. Food is okay 🙂 I’m sure Chase would love the Children’s museum, and we are also big fans of Jeni’s ice cream!
i love a lot of these favorites too. Waterloo is great. Mrs. Maisel was very enjoyable. I don’t know if was because I had the audible version of E. Hugo but I lost interest at about husband #4. That cabbage dish looks bomb, can’t wait to try it.
I liked Jessica Biel in The Sinner on Netflix. Thanks for the tip on instagram- sense of style. I really like her content.
My favorite thing from this week was my daughter ( she’s two) meeting her baby cousin for the first time. She alternated between being fascinated and amused by him and then saying she wanted him to go away. Lol. It seemed very sibling-like. But they were still super cute together.
ahhh, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – I finished reading this a few weeks ago and it made me fall back in love with reading! So glad to hear you loved it too!
I’ve always wanted to try Daily Harvest. I’ve had several friends to absolutely love it! Thanks for sharing your code! 🙂
Be careful with instacart – my girlfriend just posted that they had left the grocery receipt in her bag and they charged her a 30% markup from the recipe. I was like holy crap!!!