Good morning and Happy Halloween!!!
I hope your Friday is off to a good start. Mine certainly is thanks to two of my best friends, Merri and Ashley!
They both flew in town yesterday afternoon and we spent the day exploring, eating and chatting non-stop. I am so happy to have them here!
They flew into town because the three of us, along with Ryan, are driving to Savannah, Georgia today for a wedding this weekend. Tonight is the Halloween-themed rehearsal dinner/party and we are psyched!
But let’s move along to your regularly scheduled Things I’m Loving Friday post…
Things I’m Loving Friday
- Celebrating Our Anniversary
Yesterday was our four-year wedding anniversary! The anniversary gift theme for year four is flowers and fruit and I was so surprised to arrive home from a day with my girlfriends to a recreation of my wedding bouquet Ryan had made for me. I was obviously very touched! He’s pretty much the best. I gave him a cactus (there’s a story behind the gift, I promise!) but Ryan definitely won the best gift award this year. I loved it!
After my friend Ashley arrived yesterday, we had about an hour and a half to kill before Merri’s flight landed, so we grabbed a quick lunch at Luna’s Living Kitchen which I’m pretty sure may be my new favorite place in Charlotte. The restaurant specializes in plant-based organic local food and I absolutely loved the spaghetti bolognese I ordered. A bed of zucchini noodles was topped with a walnut mushroom bolognese sauce and it was phenomenal!!! I cannot wait to go back and try the zucchini noodle lasagna.
- Gigi D’Agostino – I’ll Fly With You
I don’t think I’ve heard this song since high school and when we were driving home from dinner last night, it came on the radio and I was so psyched! I downloaded it immediately and am so glad it’s back in my life.
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Thins
File these cookies under “impulse buy.” I saw them on sale at the grocery store this week and nearly walked by the huge display because I thought they were diet cookies. I’m glad I gave them a double-take because the “Mrs. Thinster’s” name simply refers to the fact that the cookies are super thin and crispy. The flavor tastes like homemade chocolate chip cookies (sweet and buttery!) and I love that they’re perfectly pop-able and made without the use of any artificial ingredients. Be warned though: It’s easy to eat these babies like potato chips! They’re addicting!
- Copco Small Appliance Slider Tray
I owe a big thanks to my mom for this lovely discovery! Ryan and I keep our Keurig coffee maker on our kitchen countertop and like to leave it tucked underneath our cabinets. Well, this ended up being a pain because every time we wanted to use the machine, we’d have to scoot it out and then put it back when we were done. (Sounds silly but if you’re in the same boat, I have a feeling you’ll understand my gripe with this!!) This little roller tray from Bed, Bath and Beyond makes it super simple to slide our Keurig out and back. You simply press on the button in front and roll it back and forth. Plus, it’s super cheap when you buy it with one of the never-ending supply of Bed, Bath and Beyond 20 percent off coupons.
- Around the Web Finds…
33 Clever Ways to Organize Small Things: So creative! And I can testify that using a carabineer to keep hair ties organized is fabulous!
Cheesy Broccoli Quinoa + Egg White Oatmeal + Best Sports Bras for Small Chests: Thanks so much to POPSUGAR Fitness for sharing these posts!
Pile on the Miles November Fitness Challenge
- Columbia Giveaway Winners
Congratulations to Sarah M. (jacket) and Chelsea (boots)!! Both winners were emailed first thing this morning. Thanks so much to all who entered!
- Montiel Activewear
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of testing out workout apparel from Montiel, a new company with a goal of creating better activewear staples for women. They put a heavy emphasis on quality material and design and I must say I can tell!
Through the blog, I am frequently approached by various fitness apparel companies and I truly do turn down 98 percent of the product offers I receive. Something about the look of Montiel’s apparel caught my eye though and I said I’d test it out and provide feedback directly to the company, but I definitely wasn’t expecting to love it as much as I did! (Thankfully Montiel was onboard with a flash giveaway when I approached them about it so you have a chance to win a complete outfit from them, too. See below!)
The clothes are functional and flattering and the simple but feminine designs make them stylish without being over-the-top trendy. They’re definitely great staple pieces to have in your workout wardrobe.
I had the chance to try out their teardrop sports bra and can tell you that it definitely would’ve made my Best Sports Bras for Small Chests list had I worn it before that post. It is so incredibly flattering and I absolutely love the cut and feel of the bra.
The twist tank is comfortable enough to wear to bed but it still looked cute and was the perfect breezy option for the barre and Jazzercise classes I took while wearing it. And the coral cami I am wearing in the above picture is the TBack cami and it has quickly become a favorite of mine to wear to Pure Barre. I’ve received a bunch of compliments and I love the thick material, built in removable cups and body-skimming cut.
Alright now that I’ve basically professed my love for their apparel, here’s your chance to win an outfit for yourself…
Montiel Giveaway
One PBF reader will win an entire workout outfit from Montiel that will include the following:
- One Sports Bra
- One Tank or Cami
- One Pair of Leggings or Capris
To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment below telling me about which piece of apparel you’d be most excited to receive from Montiel. Perhaps you need a new pair of leggings? Or you could really use a new sports bra? Let me know!
I will randomly select a winner next Friday.
Good luck!
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i definitely need some new leggings!
I’m always on the lookout for supportive sports bras, so I’d love to try the Victory Bra!
I would love to have a new workout top! I recently just started doing heated pilates and I am in need of some tighter fitting tops that don’t fall down over my head during class!
I love how the sports bra and cami mesh together in the back so it looks like it’s one piece! So cute!
I could really use a new pair of leggings. Mine are beyond worn out.
Leggings!
I am in desperate need of a new sports bra!!!!! These are so cute!
I would love the leggings. All I have are capris, so leggings would be nice in the winter.
a good pair of leggings!
ahhah! I’m Italian and when I read ‘Gigi D’Agostino’ I had to read again because I wasn’t sure!! ahah! good old memories!!
I’d love a new pair of leggings!
happy halloween & happy belated anniversary too! i must try those choco chip cookies stat!
Wow, what beautiful items Montiel offers! I’m in need of new sport bras and would love to try out their Victory bra.
Definitely would love to get my hands on that sports bra.
I love the twist tank!
I would love new capris! My favorite pair have holes behind the knees, but I love them so much I haven’t had the heart to stop wearing them. I think of the holes as extra ventilation…
I could definitely use all three, but I love the tank/cami options best.
I love the twist tank! It would be great for yoga, and it looks breathable for running on hot days!
A Sports bra. I have the hardest time picking out good sports bras and can never find one comfortable! I am small chested also.
I could really use a new sports bra!
definitely a new pair of leggings or capris…I’m down to one!
So cute! I could definitely use a new sports bra – it is hard to find a good quality one!!
I love he look for the first outfit. I’m in desperate need of new capris!
A new sports bra!
I could for sure use a new sports bra, and I love the t-straps on some of these!
I desperately need a new pair of capris. BTW: Thanks for your recap on your favorites, that’s been a great resource!
I like the teardrop bra in bright blue, harper tank in heather, and ellie capri pant! All so cute! 🙂
Really cute stuff, I would love a new running tank top.
Happy belated anniversary!
I am always in need of a good pair of leggings!
i love that twist tank!
I’m always searching for a great sports bra!
I love the teardrop bra in bright blue and the twist tank in grey! What a gorgeous combo!
I love the look of the Twisty tank. I have really started to do regular Pure Barre classes, and I’ve noticed that I need some more tanks to use on a more frequent basis. I love the look of it!
Also, Julie, would you be able to share where you got your shoes from in the photo above? I love them!!
Those tank tops look so comfortable! I’d love to have one for my treadmill runs. I love all of your fitness wear suggestions!
I can’t decide. All three pieces look amazing!
I’ve been waiting to pull the trigger on a new sports bra or two, so this would be great! Love the look of the top too!
I could definietely use some more tank tops for yoga and I love the look of the twist tank.
I could really use a new sports bra!!
I really like the tank top with the twisted back – just a little different than the normal stuff I wear!
I love the back of all of these tops! I think the twist top is my favorite though!
I could really use a new pair of capris for my runs now that it’s cooler outside!
I have been looking for new leggings!
I need a new sports bra the most, but I would go for the tank top. So cute!!
I could definitely use a new sports bra!
i really need a more fitted workout top for classes like yoga where my whole shirt almost comes off over my head when I’m upside down! I love the cute strap designs on some of these, but the Tback cami is so cute and simple
I need new leggings in a major way! Mine all fall down during burpees, as if those aren’t hard enough without having to keep pulling my pants up! Those tanks are super cute too.
I’d love those leggings! They look like quality stuff.
I would love a new sports bra! As a yoga instructor it is super important for me to have support and something that wicks sweat away from my body!
I am always on the look out for more cute tank tops to work out in, the one you are wearing above is soo cute!
I don’t know if I so much NEED new leggings as I WANT new leggings 🙂 But that’s what I’m pumped about!