For now, I am ready to get the weekend rollin’! Ryan and I are taking the boys and Sadie off to Golden Valley, North Carolina this evening and I’m really looking forward to hiking, swimming and spending lots of time outdoors. I’ll absolutely recap the fun on the blog next week but first I wanted to share my weekly roundup of favorites with you guys.
Have a fantastic weekend!
Things I’m Loving Friday
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Dinner with College BFFs
(Top: Free People / Skirt: Romeo & Juliet Couture via RueLaLa — but both of these items are a few years old!)
The minute I finalized my NYC travel plans, I reached out to Merri and Cherayne with my fingers triple crossed they’d both be in town during my 24-hour visit. Thankfully they were and we met up for a late-night dinner which was wonderful! We chatted over seafood and drinks and I loved our time together as always. It wasn’t nearly long enough but we’re hoping for a November trip with our whole crew of college girlfriends this fall!
I included this hybrid backpack/duffel bag in my Father’s Day gift guide this year because I initially got it for Ryan since he makes it his mission in life to never check a bag when we travel. I also prefer to carry on but I find myself getting frustrated when more often than not I’m required to check my carry on at the gate because of a lack of overhead bin space. Since my trip to NYC was so short, I opted to pack everything I needed in this backpack which can fit under the seat in front of me and it was awesome!! It can also be used as a duffel bag (it comes with a strap you can hook onto the sides and the backpack straps can easily be tucked away) and is clearly made for travel. I love the cushioned pouch for my laptop, all of the pockets and the separate compartment for shoes or dirty clothes. It’s a great find and at $60, I think it’s very reasonably priced.
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Meeting Andie Mitchell
(Top: Ambiance via Nordstrom / Skirt: American Eagle / Hat: Wallaroo via Amazon / Bracelet: Francesca’s — love that it looks like so many bracelets in one! / Slides: Francesca’s)
I’ve been blogging for a looong time and reading blogs for even longer. Andie Mitchell’s blog is one of the first blogs I began reading and she is a serious inspiration for me. She’s vulnerable and real and her writing is incredible. Meeting Andie in person in NYC was so wonderful because we’ve been internet friends for years. She’s just as down-to-earth, kind and gorgeous in person as she seems on her blog and connecting with other women who do something similar to what I do is so important to me. Andie is the real deal and you need to check out her blog if you haven’t already! Her recipes will make you drool, her baby boy will make your heart soar and her writing will deeply move you.
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Central Park Stroll
(Sneakers: Adidas Swift Run — currently on sale for $50 — definitely size 1/2 to a full size down because they run BIG)
I was so, so psyched for a lazy morning where I hoped I’d sleep in until 8 a.m. during my one night away from home. I pulled the blackout blinds in my hotel room shut tight before bed with hopes of sleeping way past sunrise but wouldn’t you know I woke up at 5:30 a.m. and could not get back to sleep for the life of me. After rolling around in bed for 30 minutes, I threw in the towel, changed into a comfy t-shirt and leggings and walked to Central Park. I must admit a stroll through Central Park in the morning felt like quite a luxurious way to begin the day and ended up being a pretty sweet alternative to my plans to catch up on some much-needed sleep. I listened to the Dave Matthews Band Pandora station and enjoyed people watching (and dog watching) and even managed to meet up with Katy, another long-time blogging buddy of mine during my walk! I love how vibrant and energetic the city is in the morning and enjoyed being surrounded by so much activity in the early morning hours.
Things like this oddly amuse me and when I saw someone share a link to this “Today Name Generator” from Time magazine, I had to participate. The generator gives you a name based on your name’s popularity all the way back to 1890. Apparently my “today name” would be Nova but my favorite name was my 1920s name which was Clara. So pretty! Oh and I loved that my 1890s name was Mae which is the grandma name the boys use for my mom!
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Around the Web
Food: Cool Ranch Kale Salad / Healthy Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins / Family Meal Ideas Everyone Loves
Fitness: Upper Body Core + Resistance Band Workout / Run + Tone Stroller Workout
Weekend Sales: 20% off sale styles from Zappos with code BDAY20 / The Nordstrom Sale is still going on! You may see my picks (what I bought + what I already own and love) here! I also ended up ordering this $26 sweater when it was restocked and these jeans from the sale but I have NO idea how they’ll look on my body type so I’ll report back if they’re a win. Oh and the Leith dress from Nordstrom everyone loves is now 20% off!!
- Friday Flashbacks
Banana Blueberry Protein Pancakes (Perfect to whip up on a lazy Sunday morning)
60-40-20 Kettlebell Workout (A decreasing reps + total body workout!)
Question of the Day
What is your “Today Name?”
What is one thing you’re loving this week?
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My daughter’s name is Clara! 🙂 Have a good weekend!
Woohoo 🙂
My baby girl’s name is Clara Mae! So funny that they both came up for you.
Love both of those names!
My today name is Abril. I don’t think I even know anyone who has used that name! 🙂
I am totally weirded out (in a good way) by the names I got! My name is Samantha #6 most popular in 1989. My today name would be Charlotte (what I pray to name one of my future daughters). My 2018, 2017 and 2016 names would all be Mia (which is my current and ONLY daughter’s name). After that my name would have been Amanda (my best friend’s name) and then Stephanie (which is my childhood best friends name). What in the what?!?! So cool!! Thank you for sharing!
That is crazy! Very cool though!!
This happened to me too! My mom’s name was on my list (Nancy) and my aunt (Brenda) and my 80s name (I was born in ’80) was Samantha :-). I was going to be named Samantha until my dad kept calling me “Sam” so my mom switched it to Sara. 🙂 There was a beautiful Sam in my middle school and the name fit her perfectly but it wouldn’t have worked for me! Julie, did you try Chase and Ryder’s names yet?! So neat! Thanks for sharing! And that’s so amazing about meeting the author! I know that feeling of meeting a “celebrity” in your field who you’ve admired from afar for years. I’m a photographer and got to meet Katelyn James years ago and get a photo with her! It was so exciting! 🙂 please tell us how you handle packing for back to back trips with two little ones! I need to pack tomorrow for a week long trip…I have never been so behind! Normally I have a list far in advance. It’s amazing how packing lists change as your kids’ ages change!
My today name is Lillian, which totally reminds me of Maya Rudolph’s character in Bridesmaids. Hope you have a great weekend!
My today name is Evelyn…it was funny my 1970’s name is Nicole – which is my sister’s name (born in the ’70s). Clearly my parents followed the same trends for both of us!
That’s my today name too, but my real name is Michelle!
NAME Yvonne
BORN 1979
SEX
Male
Female X
Sorry! We couldn’t find data for girl’s named “Yvonne ” in 1979, meaning it occurred fewer than five times.
Gah! The perpetual story of my life with an unusual name. Just once I’d like to fine a key chain or magnet or anything with my name on it. Although, I’d love to meet the other 3 Yvonne’s born in 1979.
Don’t feel too bad, my name was 4th most popular in 1983 (Ashley) and they couldn’t find data. Lol.
When I searched my friend’s daughter’s name (Bella in 2008) your name came up twice! For the 30s and 40s :-). Very pretty name!
Ladies, definitely try it again! I just plugged in both of your names and years and it worked!
come to Belgium, lots of Yvonne’s but mostly older than you i think 😉 🙂
I actually have a good friend who’s name is Clara Grace and she named her daughter Clara James! In high school she always just went by Grace though! I loved seeing your NY highlights, I’ve still NEVER been! ( I KNOW!!! )
My today name is Avery, definitely doesn’t fit!
I LOVE that you met Andie Mitchell! I have been following her since I read her book an I readying blog for years!
My 1880s name would be James!?!
One thing I’m really loving this week, is the latest book I just started called “Three Women,” by Lisa Taddeo. It’s a nonfiction book and is actually so intriguing just a couple pages in! I’m looking forward to reading the rest as soon as I can.
Hi Julie!
I’m a long time reader who never really posts, but I just have to say how much I always love your hair! It always looks so shiny, healthy and put together. I would love if you happened to do a post about your normal hair routine, products you use, how often you wash it, how you deal with post-workout hair without showering etc. I work at a hospital and that, combined with my hair getting SO sweaty during workouts, has turned me into a person who washes my hair daily (ugh). I also get blonde highlights done regularly so I feel like I need to develop a better hair routine 🙂
My maternal grandmother is a Clara Mae. I have liked that name and considered carrying it to my future daughter…who knows. My name today would be Isabella.
I love that! It’s beautiful!