How are you guys doing today? Once again I wanted to pop in yesterday but some meetings and appointments got in the way. I’m definitely ready to establish more of a routine and get out of this strange limbo phase we’re in at the moment, but it’s also an exciting time. There is a house we absolutely love (not the same one we met with a contractor about… that one is out) and we’ve got a lot going on around this fabulous find at the moment. I hope things work out but I know enough not to think everything is going to go 100 percent smoothly. Right now I’d say we’re feeling cautiously optimistic. (I’m describing my rollercoaster of emotions at the moment as “non-stop panicked excitement.”)
As for this weekend, assuming the weather cooperates, I’m ready for some outdoor fun! We’re hoping to make it out to a fun food truck event, spend some time on the lake and relax a little bit. I hope you guys have a fun weekend, too!
Here’s your usual Things I’m Loving Friday post! As always, I’d love to hear all about what is making you smile this week in the comments section of this post.
Things I’m Loving Friday
I ordered this little baby for less than $10 on Amazon and it is the BEST. After eating my fair share of Subway chopped salads, I figured buying one of the choppers they use might encourage me to make more salads at home since it would hopefully help make chopping veggies less of a pain. Well, this thing has been amazing! I just throw a bunch of ingredients into a large bowl and use it to chop them all up at once. A chopped salad comes together in a flash and I love tasting lots of veggies and flavors in every bite of my salad. (If you decide to buy one, please be careful because it is incredibly sharp. It thinks baby carrots and almonds are child’s play.)
- New Music Downloads
Two new songs found their way onto my iPhone this week! Both are pretty chill but also have a fun beat. (I think they’re great songs to listen to while you work.) Thanks to my friend Leah and Muncher Cruncher’s Instagram account for putting these songs on my radar:
The Lumineers – Big Parade
Ron Pope – One Grain of Sand
When this whole house hunting thing is over and I am no longer 100 percent addicted to Zillow, I have a feeling an addiction to Houzz will begin. This website is like heaven for anyone who likes looking at ridiculously gorgeous photos of houses. They have pictures of everything. Ryan and I drooled over photos of outdoor living spaces like the one you see above on the site last night. (Beautiful kitchens are to Julie as gorgeous outdoor living spaces are to Ryan.) I also think it’s better than Pinterest for home design ideas because they give specifics regarding each design project and have everything categorized so searching the site is a breeze.
- Fresh Market Teriyaki Turkey Jerky
This was an impulse buy at Fresh Market this week and I ate the whole bag in the car on the drive home. (The bag is small, so it’s not hard to do!) It’s delicious and I love that Fresh Market’s turkey jerky doesn’t use as much added sugar and salt as other brands on the market. And yes, a picture is absent from this bullet point because all of the turkey jerky was in my belly before I got home to photograph it.
(Source)
My friend Katy shared a few pool workouts on her blog this morning and as someone who absolutely loves swimming, I adored this post! I haven’t followed an actual pool workout in years, but if we find a gym close to our next house that has a pool, I’d love to incorporate some of these workouts into my routine a little more regularly.
I cannot say enough glowing things about our realtor, Diane. I absolutely love her. She is the most thoughtful, easy going and pressure-free person to be around and I will honestly be sad not to see her and talk to her all the time when this whole home-buying process is done. She’s on top of everything, quick to respond, professional and very savvy. If you ever find yourself looking for a house in the Charlotte/Lake Norman area, I cannot recommend Diane enough. She’s the best!
- 21 Best GIFs Of All Time (Volume 43)
Check out the above link if you need a smile this morning. It definitely made me laugh out loud a few times!
- LaMaLu Boutique Giveaway Winners
Congratulations to Meaghan and Eileen! Both giveaway winners were emailed first thing this morning. And just in case you have your eye on something from LaMaLu Boutique, the owner is offering all PBF readers 20 percent off through the end of August with the code PB20!
Past Things I’m Loving Friday Posts
Question of the Day
- What is one thing you’re loving this week?
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Oh thanks for the pool workout! I have a feeling the weather is going to crank up in NC this week:(
Julie, Have you ever tried Fabletics??? I really think you’d love it! Discounted gym outfits sent to you every month! Kate Hudson started it 🙂 http://www.fabletics.com/invite/53301228/
I’ve heard a lot about it but haven’t personally tried anything. Their stuff is super cute though!
If I sent you an outfit, would you post a review along with my referral link?
That salad chopper seems like just about the best invention ever! I’m literally looking on amazon to order one right now. This week I’m loving the fact that I have a new work routine that allows me to have Fridays off. I don’t quite know what to do with myself with this new 3-day weekend!
Good luck house hunting..the whole process is SO fun, especially if you love your realtor. I just bought a condo with my boyfriend and I was truly sad when all the paperwork was finalized, because I didn’t get to see my realtor every day. I’ve been trying to think of reasons to contact him, but I can’t come up with anything and my mom says that would be weird. So now I’m just hoping one of my friends wants to buy a house soon, so I can go with her to look. Have a wonderful weekend!! 🙂
Congrats on the condo!! Exciting!
Totes checking out Houzzes
I just died laughing at the bear GIF. That seems like something I would do (or maybe have done) when I see animals.
I thought it was adorable and so hilarious, too!!
Thank you for the pool workout! I live in Texas and it is way too hot to run outside. I do a lot of treadmill running in the summer. I was just looking for another good workout to get out of the boredom of treadmill running. Yay pool workout! I will be doing that today.
Things I am loving this week – my daughter. She is home from college for 2 weeks before she starts nursing school. I have really enjoyed this part of our lives where we shift from mom/daughter to best friends… where she actually solicits advice from me. 🙂 So this Friday goes out to Alyssa. I love you! (she follows your blog too)
Have a great weekend!
Well, it’s not earth shattering, but I got a new garage door since ours was over 40 years old and broken and I’m loving it this Friday! We’re also painting our doors red, red for Christmas red for Valentines Day. But it’s making me happy right now.
And we’re going to buy the girls paint at Toys R Us so they can’t paint rocks in the backyard =)
Um, the salad chopper is genius…i currently use a PIZZA CUTTER. hahaha
I’ve done that before, too, but it never did quite as good of a job as I had hoped! This thing is so sharp. It is crazy!
I love my salad chopper! Mine acts more like scissors but does the same thing. And just like you, it came from my love of chopped salads! Such a great kitchen tool!
WHOA I’ve never heard of a salad chopper! I have never actually watched anyone make a chopped salad so I guess I had no idea what they use- ha!
OMG I need a salad chopper. I’m always in awe when I get a reeeally well-chopped subway salad. Now that I know I can get one for under $10 I’m definitely going to get on that.
i NEED that salad chopper!
Omg I love that bear waving gif! Have an awesome weekend! I’m thinking happy house thoughts for you!
Thanks Erin! Hope you have a great weekend, too!
I love those pool workouts– I need to get some in before the summer is over!
As someone who has lived in a big city for so long, I’d absolutely love to have an outdoor space one day too. There are a lot of food truck events around San Francisco and I just had some food truck fun on Sunday.
This weekend, I’m looking forward to teaching some Les Mills group fitness classes, training a few clients and going to see a play with my husband at a little player’s theatre in downtown San Francisco. Good luck with the house!
Julie- please stop linking to every single one of your Friday Favorites post. If you really think people want to read all the way back to your August 2013 Favorites then consider making a separate tab at the top. It’s incredibly annoying to see every single one in an unbearably long list at the end of your post.
Thanks for the feedback! I’ll just share a link the the category for anyone who might be interested in the future. They are definitely getting long now!!
Definitely agree with this feedback!!! No need to link to every post.
Gotcha! I appreciate the input!
Julie, I really like how nice you are to people who reply with not so nice comments. 🙂
My hubby and I are looking at places to live right now too and I just discovered realtor.com. I actually like it MUCH better than Zillow. You should check it out 🙂
Pool workouts!!! I need to try those like right now!! Can there be a better season other than summer!! I don’t know what it is but everyone seems so happy, weather is good, the atmosphere is generally great. Too bad when fall comes and everyone is grumpy. Hahah!
Due to this unbearable hotness I am loving cold food. Even if I cook it I will pop it in the freezer for a couple of minutes and eat it cold. I don’t mind whatever it is. I will eat cold soup if it happens!
Love Ron Pope! Have you heard “Our Song?” Makes me tear up (happy tears!) every time. 🙂
That salad chopper sounds like it means business! I love chopped salads, but I just use a pizza cutter (so rachet, I know, haha) or my Ninja food processor to chop it all up.
The pool workouts look good….I’m not a super strong swimmer, though, so I’d really love to try pool running sometime! I know Janae at HRG did it while recovering from an injury and said it was a great workout.
What I’m really loving this week is knowing that my brother is on his way back from deployment and I get to go see him next week!! So happy that he’s safe and finally coming home.
Our Song is so pretty!!! Love it!
Good luck with the house! I bet it’s nerve wracking but like you said, it’s such an exciting time! I can’t wait to see the new place, wherever that may be!
I LOVE my mezzaluna! I use it to chop fresh herbs, especially a bunch at once for herb butter or sauces.
Houzz is awesome! (And dangerous. HA!)
That salad chopper looks amazing!!! I have seriously been missing out!!
Realators are very important. I’ve purchased two houses. The last one I bought the Realators didn’t come with me to sign the paperwork with the builder and when things were discovered during the inspection she would not negotiate on my behalf. Make sure you really are confident with who you have. Some of them just want the commission.
I’ve been house hunting (a tad early, we won’t look seriously for another year or so) but HotPads is a great website you should look into. You can search neighborhoods, how many bedrooms you want, price range, special features, etc!
Houzz is the best site ever!! I love looking at pictures. I gives me so many ideas and makes me want to change everything around in my house. I love looking at house décor.
Isn’t it so fun to get ideas?! I hadn’t heard of it until Julie talked about it but I am loving it!!
i love chopped salads!
crossing my fingers for you & ryan! =)
Thank goodness for Amazon prime… I’ll be ordering that salad chopper; how easy!
Thanks for your Firday Faves! The gifs made my day! have a great weekend!
I have never seen / heard of a salad chopper – brilliant! I am loving my spiralizer this week – it is seriously the BEST purchase off amazon ever – I spiralize zucchini, sweet potatoes – everything and it’s so great!
I have been meaning to try a spiralizer… Must get on that!
Thanks for introducing me to Houzz. I like that it is more specific than pinterest. I just purchased a home and I am looking for ideas to decorate. My only problem with these websites is that they design rooms for millionaires! Sigh, at least I will get some ideas.
Congratulations on buying a house!! Very exciting (and overwhelming, too, I’m sure)!
Pool workouts!!! I’ve been taking lessons in swimming all this year (yep, I’m one of those adults who can’t swim!) and this is definitely something I could use to change up my practices a bit! Thanks for sharing, Julie! 🙂
That salad chopper is the best idea — I’m totally ordering one 🙂
Happy Friday!
I really should be doing things during baby’s nap time, but Imma’ check out those GIFs first. 😉 Happy Friday!
Happy Friday, Julie! That chopper looks awesome. I went to a food truck event this week and it was so much fun! I love all the creative menu options that food trucks often have!
Here are some things I’m loving on this fabulous Friday: http://daybydaymasterpiece.com/2014/08/08/fabulous-friday-29/
that salad chopper looks fab!!!
I’m loving that we are going out of town to see my sista up north this weekend!
I am loving those swim workouts too! I was on swim team growing up and love to do it, but unfortunately I have not use swimming as a workout in awhile. I need to change that!
I’m so glad you posted that salad chopper! We have one and I love it but have no idea where it came from. i’ve wanted to get one as a gift for people before but I haven’t seen it again. Ours came in a set with a giant wooden bowl that has the perfect curve for the blade. I’ll just have to keep looking for that part.
Man I wish I loved swimming like that! It’s such a great exercise and a nice break from running for your joints but I have never been able to get into it. Probably because of the breathing, I just like having air right there waiting for you, I get tired of having to come up out of the water for it!
Also- to die for porch!
I’m loving my new yoga mat! Nothing like a squeaky clean new mat.
Do you think the salad chopper would work well for herbs? It’s such a pain to chop a big bunch!
Yes definitely!
I NEED that salad chopper! I am the worlds slowest salad cutter ha!
I love Big Parade too, awesome song 🙂
Ee! That salad chopper looks awesome! Good luck with the house hunting, it must be SO overwhelming, I haven’t done too much of it myself yet…but looking for a building for our business is not so fun either 🙁 I just posted a swim workout in prep for a triathlon in a couple weeks! Thanks for more ideas. You’re awesome!
http://www.yakkafit.com/triathlon-training-swim-workout/
Thanks for sharing the salad chopper, I can’t believe you can get it for that price!
Does the chopper scratch the heck out of your bowl?
I’m loving sitting on the shores of Lake Champlain in VT this weekend at a friend’s house!
This week I’m loving that football season is about to start back up!
Amazing salad chopper!!
Salad chopper- such a genius idea!! I love those chopped salads, too. I feel like that would make me want to eat more veggies at home!
catching up on blog reading. i was a little ole student in an aquacise class and promoted to teacher in May (kinda an odd tale). not sure what your old pool class was like, but this is mostly fit seniors (and bad back me….mid-30s with a body in the mid-70s). since you mentioned pool workouts, i wondered if you had any tips or even websites you used when you taught pool fitness. i already feel a little stale! any advice would be SO very appreciated!
I must order a salad chopper! I prefer chopped salads and that looks like it will make things so easy!