Friday Favorites

TGIF! I've probably said this a million times before but I am feeling the 'thank goodness it's Friday' vibe more than ever! As of now we have an open schedule for the weekend and I'm hoping to keep it that way. Work is keeping me super busy so some down time would be great. The weather has been fantastic around here which means time outside will be a must! I hope you all have a great weekend!

Nuun Instant
Nuun Hydration released this new product a couple weeks ago and I finally got around to trying it! Nuun Instant is added to your drink to help you rapidly re-hydrate, 2-3 times faster than regular water. Unlike typical Nuun Sport, Instant comes as a powder in a small sachet as opposed to the tablets. It dissolves in water super quickly, making the ability to re-hydrate even quicker. They come in 2 flavors, lemon lime and watermelon, which are both delicious! My recommendation is to make sure it's super cold in order to bring out the best flavor. I drank this after a long, hot run and felt great the rest of the day when normally I'd feel dehydrated later in the day. I'm planning to keep this on hand for long run days and also days when I have a bad headache. Oh, and they offer a sample pack so you can try it without committing to a whole box!

Chai Latte Wax Melts
I don't care what anyone says, fall is in the air! This means that I have brought out all the fall scented candles and wax melts. While in Aldi last week searching for the highly coveted 3-wick candles, I found these wax melts instead. I'm a huge chai latte person so I had high hopes for the scent. It's probably the closest to smelling like a chai latte than a real chai latte itself! I've had it in my wax melter I have in my office all week and I don't plan on swapping it out for another scent anytime soon.

Pairs well with wine!

Dr. Teal's Foaming Bath
The beginning of the school year has been wild which means self-care has been a must for me! Last Friday I stopped at Wal-Mart on the way home from work to pick up a new bubble bath. I went right to the Dr. Teal's section because I know that brand is great. The Relax & Relief type jumped right out at me because that is exactly what I needed to do! The eucalyptus and spearmint scent is so relaxing while the pure epsom salt leaves my body feeling relieved from all the stress of the work week. It also bubbles up a good amount! I would highly recommend this foaming bath, along with all the other types of foaming bath and epsom salts that Dr. Teal's has to offer!

Question of the Day: What is something you're loving this week?

Friday Favorites

Happy First Friday of August! I have a love/hate relationship with the month of August. I love it because a lot of important dates fall during this month but then I hate it because it means work starts back up very soon. One of those important dates I've mentioned is our wedding anniversary this Sunday! As of now we have a low key weekend planned that may or may not involve waffles & ice cream 😉 Anywho- another Friday, another post with some things I've been loving!

My New Car

On Tuesday I finally traded in my 2001 Honda CRV for a 2017 Honda HRV EX-L! I am over the moon excited over here! We've been planning to get me a new car for awhile now, then covid-19 happened and our search came to a pause. We picked back up last week and during our search came across this beauty! It is the perfect car for me and has so many great features, most importantly being heated seats and power locks (you'd understand if you ever were in my old car). I highly recommend this car for anyone in the market for a smaller size SUV. 

Nuun Tank Top

I saw this new Nuun tank top pop up in my Nuun Ambassador Facebook group last week and knew I just had to have it! I'm currently doing a runstreak so all my running clothes are really taking a beating. I used that as justification for treating myself to this! This tank top is super soft, the pink is very eye-catching, and it has a very flattering fit. It's Bella + Canvas brand, which is one of my favorites! All proceeds of the sales benefit the organization &Mother, an organization who breaks down barriers
"that limit a woman’s choice to pursue and thrive in both career and motherhood."

Old Navy Linen Shorts

I bought a pair of these shorts last year because I needed some new shorts for my honeymoon. They've since become my favorite casual shorts and I'm not sure why I don't own them in every color yet. They're lightweight, have a drawstring to tighten them around the waist, and aren't super short, making them very comfortable! I'm hoping I can find a few pairs on clearance as the summer comes to an end.

Question of the Day: What is something you've been loving this week?

Using Nuun in More Than Water!

As most of you know, I'm a huge fan of Nuun Hydration (and hydration in general, but that's a topic for another post!) and am even a 2nd year ambassador for them. With the extreme heat wave Jersey has been experiencing lately, I've been trying to get creative with my hydration game. Adding Nuun tabs to my water throughout the day definitely helps make staying hydrated a bit easier, but lately I started thinking outside the box. What if I could incorporate Nuun into some fun summertime treats? Today I'm sharing three ideas I've tried and loved!

Nuun Slushie

This has to be my new favorite post-long run treat! This recipe can be altered in so many different ways but for now I will share how I made it. I dissolved 2 strawberry lemonade tabs in 16 oz of water. Once they fully dissolved, I combined that with a handful of frozen strawberries in my blender. Next I blended it then enjoyed! Super simple. Like I said before, there are an endless amount of ways you could alter this, from the amount of water or number of Nuun tabs to the flavor of Nuun or frozen fruit added. The key to it being the slushie consistency is for the fruit to be frozen but I'm sure you could add in some ice cubes if your fruit isn't frozen.

Nuun Jello

This idea came from a fellow Nuun Ambassador on our Facebook group and it's super simple to make! Make your Jello following the directions on the box, but dissolve a tab or two of Nuun into the cold water that is added at the end. Like the slushie, this recipe can be altered so many ways as the flavor combinations of Jello and Nuun are endless! The number of Nuun tabs can be changed based off how strong you want the flavor to be. When I first made it I used strawberry Jello and strawberry kiwi Nuun- so good! I just made it this past weekend using cherry Jello and Kona Cola Nuun which may be my new favorite combination.

Nuun Ice Pops

With all my hot runs lately, I knew I needed to come up with a refreshing treat for after a run that was quick and easy.  My idea was a Nuun popsicle! Once again, this is another simple recipe. Dissolve 1-2 Nuun tabs for every cup of water you're going to use (my ice pop mold only held 1 cup total), pour the Nuun into any ice pop mold, then freeze! I've been loving having one after a really hot run. If I don't feel like finishing it, I just drop the remainder of the ice pop in a glass of water to cool down my water and add a little bit of flavor. My favorite flavor for these is Fresh Lime since it's so refreshing!

Question of the Day: Which of these recipes are you going to try first?

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday! This week really flew by for me. It was technically my spring break but the only real difference compared to the past couple weeks is that I wasn’t on any real schedule during the day. All in all it was a good week! We have a pretty low key weekend ahead of us. My only real plan is to “run” with my friend Rachel this weekend since Sunday would’ve been our marathon. As of now I think we are planning to do a 10-miler and talk to each other during it.

Here are a few things I’ve been loving this week!

The Science of Well-Being Yale University Class
Honestly, I don't even remember how I found out about this, probably somewhere on Facebook. But anyway, Yale offers their class The Science of Well-Being for FREE (unless you want to pay like, $50 to get an actual course completion certificate) through Coursera! I chose to audit the class because I really didn't need to prove to anybody that I took it. It's a 10-week class but you can take it as fast or as slow as you want. I've made it a habit to complete the lectures on Monday or Tuesday and then focus on the "rewirements" for the week. The "rewirements" are little tasks we need to complete daily that go along with the week's topic. For example, this week we are talking about gratitude so the "rewirement" is to write down 5 things we are grateful this week. All in all, it's been a wonderful time-killer for me during everything going on right now and if it can really help increase my happiness and build more productive habits, then it's a win-win.

Snail Mail
Continuing on with ways to distract myself, snail mail has been a fun way to pass the time lately! My nephew and I have been sending mail back and forth which gives me something to look forward to. He sends me adorable drawings and I usually respond with a fun card and some stickers. I also have a pen pal from Minnesota who has been fun to keep up with. A friend of mine even sent me a cute card a week or so ago that made my day! Long story short, snail mail has been a great distraction lately so I highly recommend taking a few minutes to send a cute card or letter to a friend or family member.

Limited Edition Nuun Flavors
On April 1st, Nuun released two new limited edition flavors Nuun Sport that everyone went wild about. The first one was a new, never before seen flavor, Kiwi Strawberry. The second was a long-awaited returning flavor that had been retired in 2015, Kona Cola + Caffeine! I hadn't tried the Kona Cola flavor in the past but decided I needed to try it due to the way everybody raved about it. I ordered a few tubes of each and was thrilled when they showed up last week. I've had the chance to try both (maybe even more than once) and in my opinion, both are great! Kiwi Strawberry has a great fruity flavor that I crave after a long run. Kona Cola tablets smell like those bottle cap candies, but once dissolved in water, they have a flavor that is a mix between flat soda and those cola gummies. I've never been a soda person but for some reason am loving Kona Cola! Even though they are limited edition flavors, both are still available to order as of now.

Question of the Day: What is something you've been loving this week?

Exciting News!

If you've been on my Instagram the past week or so then you know I've been getting some pretty exciting news lately. I am now an ambassador for not one, not two, but THREE different running brands that I absolutely love. 

Back in January, I was accepted as a Nuun ambassador for a second year in a row. I am all about staying hydrated so representing that brand is a no-brainer for me! In just one year as an ambassador I introduced many of my friends and family to Nuun so I am excited to see what happens in 2020.

Last week, Momentum Jewelry opened up their #sharetheSPARK ambassador "applications" but they did things a little differently this year. Instead of filling out a form and waiting for Momentum to choose the ambassadors, they opened the opportunity up to everyone! The first so many people to purchase their ambassador kits {$20 for the 3 Motivate Wraps- one of each of the 2 new sayings and one from last year, 1 additional fabric wrap color, 1 #sharetheSPARK Foot Note, 1 SPARKlet, and a coupon code}, reserved their spot on the 2020 team. I just happened to go on their site right when the kits were launched so I snagged mine! I received my package on Monday and man, oh MAN, am I excited to share the spark! The two new sayings are AMAZING and the wheels in my head are already spinning with how to share them.

To keep up the awesomeness, I received an email on Saturday morning welcoming me to Team ROADiD! One of my first purchases as a runner was my shoe ID. Shoe ID's are the easiest way to carry your emergency info {mine has my name, hometown, emergency contact info, and allergies} while out on a run, hike, etc. They also offer wrist ID's, ID's that attach to your smartwatch, and more! I am so excited to be part of the ROADiD team and share the importance of runner safety with my running community!

Running is such an important part of my life, if that wasn't already obvious ;) These three brands represent three things I am passionate about when it comes to running- hydration, motivation, and safety.I hope you are all as ready as I am to learn more about what these three brands have to offer!

Question of the Day: If you could be an ambassador for any brand, what would it be?

Friday Five: 5 Things I'm Loving This Week

For once I am not too thrilled it's Friday because that means my spring break is over in a few days. Luckily I still have a few days left to rest up and possibly get some things done. I had my wisdom teeth out Tuesday which went really well, so I've spent most of this week being lazy. No complaints here, though! Before I get started on this lazy Friday, I'm sharing my Friday Five with you!

1. The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
This book was recommended to me by Maureen, who reads a ton of good books, so I was pumped when I found out my co-worker had it for me to borrow. From the first page I was hooked! The Tattooist of Auschwitz follows the story of Lale, a prisoner at Auschwitz-Birkenau, who is given the job of tattooing his fellow prisoners as they arrive at Auschwitz. Lale soon meets the love of his live, Gita, who he vows to marry once they make it out of this camp alive. This book follows Lale through his two and a half years of being a prisoner and how he used his privileged position, risking his own life, to help save others. It's truly a remarkable story I recommend to anyone!

2. Nuun Plogging Challenge
On Monday, Nuun shared with us a Plogging Challenge as a way of celebrating Earth Day throughout the whole week. Plogging is "a Swedish word meaning picking up litter while jogging." I had heard of this term before, but haven't actually done it before. Since Nuun was challenging me, and I needed a reason to get out and walk, I decided to complete it! On Thursday I went on a 45 minute walk around my development and collected over half a plastic grocery bag full of litter. It was such a nice way to help the earth while also getting some movement in!

Source

3. Hydro Flask National Park Foundation Collection
I received an email from Hydro Flask this week that shared their newest collection, the National Park Foundation Collection! This is a limited edition collection that showcases 5 of our National Parks including Yellowstone and the Great Smoky Mountains. Each bottle features artwork that pays tribute to these beautiful places! You can purchase these in the 21 oz or 32 oz sizes.

Source

4. Momentum Jewelry's #sharetheSPARK Motivate Wraps
I received my ambassador package with the 2 newest Motivate Wraps for the #sharetheSPARK campaign and I have been dying to share them with everyone! The new mantras for 2019 are "keep reaching higher" and "find your courage." From now until May 6th, the whole Share the Spark collection is on SALE (this includes last year's mantras: "you got this!", "you're so worth it," "keep moving forward," and "never give up"). You can choose from any of these six mantras for just $14 each! Want to pay it forward and pass one on? You can buy 2 and you'll get 50% off the 2nd #sharetheSPARK Motivate Wrap! How cool is that?! This is a great sale that will be ending May 6th so hurry on over and pick one (or more!) out!

5. Mashed Potatoes
This is a silly addition to my Friday Five. I've been on an all soft food diet this week because of my surgery so I've had no choice but to eat tons of mashed potatoes. To be honest, I've never been a fan of anything containing potatoes, but I think I am coming around to them. I've actually been enjoying eating mashed potatoes all week because it's the one thing that has helped keep me full!

Question of the Day: What is something you're loving this week?

All About Nuun

Nuun has been my go-to hydration for a couple years now. Back in January I became a Nuun Ambassador and I am more than happy to share the #nuunlove! I've had to chance to try 4 out of the 5 types of Nuun {I have yet to try Nuun Endurance!} and today I am sharing with you information along with my thoughts of the 4 types. At the end of each type I have also included my recommended flavor and when I drink the different types!

Nuun Sport (+ Caffeine)

Nuun Sport (formerly Nuun Electrolytes) is my go-to source of electrolytes before, during, AND after a workout. Nuun Sport + Caffeine powered me through all of my early morning marathon training long runs while Nuun Sport without caffeine is a great way to re-hydrate throughout the day.

1 tablet = 15 calories & 2 grams of sugar

Non-GMO certified, gluten-, dairy-, and soy-free

Vegan friendly

Stevia leaf provides a crisp, light sweetness

+ Caffeine contains 40mg of caffeine from organic green tea extract

My Thoughts: I'm a major water drinker, so keeping myself hydrated isn't too much of a problem, but I like to drink Nuun Sport throughout the day to switch up the flavor. I typically drink this before a run or later in a day after I had gone running. Nuun Sport + Caffeine is perfect for me in the morning because I don't drink coffee. I do feel like the caffeine gives me a boost of energy for my run. 

Recommended Flavors: Fresh Lime {with caffeine} and grape {without caffeine}

Nuun Immunity

With everyone getting sick these past few weeks, Nuun Immunity has become a staple in my desk drawer. With a botanical blend, vitamins, and electrolytes, Nuun Immunity is great for overall immune health support. Sip on one of 2 refreshing flavors (Blueberry Tangerine & Orange Citrus) next time you are starting to feel sick, are traveling, or are recovery from a hard workout.

1 tablet = 15 calories & 2 grams of sugar

Non-GMO certified, gluten-, dairy-, and soy-free

Vegan friendly

My Thoughts: Since I work with kids, I'll try anything to prevent myself from getting sick. I've been drinking Nuun Immunity throughout the day the past few weeks and I feel like I've kept myself from getting sick more than I typically would.

Recommended Flavor: Orange Citrus

Nuun Rest

Brush my teeth? Check. Wash my face? Check. Drink Nuun Rest? Check.

Since receiving my Nuun Rest in the mail last week, it has become part of my nighttime routine. Because proper rest and recovery is vital to your overall health and wellness, Nuun Rest was created to aid to promote restfulness and recovery. Magnesium, tart cherry, sodium, and potassium support the body's natural relaxation responses by calming the mind and relaxing the body, reducing inflammation and muscle soreness, aiding in fluid and nutrient retention, promoting muscle relaxation, and preventing cramping. Nuun Rest can be used as part of your bedtime routine, on rest days, to reduce stress, and any other time you need some extra R&R. Just add one tablet to 4-6 ounces of hot or cold water, let dissolve for about 4 minutes, and sip your way to relaxation. 

1 tablet = 10 calories & 1 gram of sugar

No artificial sweeteners

Non-GMO verified ingredients

Electrolytes for hydration

My Thoughts: When Nuun announced their newest addition, Nuun Rest, I was ecstatic! I ordered it right away and waited by my mail box until it arrived {okay, maybe that's a lie, but you get what I mean}. I tend to take awhile to fall asleep at night, which I find crazy because I feel tired before bed, so I was curious if this would help. I'm pretty pumped to say that all the nights that I have taken Nuun Rest before bed, I've fallen asleep much quicker than the nights I didn't take it. It truly does make your mind and body feel more relaxed. I have only ever tried the Rest with cold water but I have heard from fellow Nuun Ambassadors that they enjoy it in warmer water!

Recommended flavor: Lemon Chamomile

Nuun Vitamins

If you're someone who is always on the go like me, then Nuun Vitamins is for you! Nuun Vitamins help keep you hydrated while giving you a boost of 11 most under-consumed vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, D, and E. These vitamins and minerals promote daily wellness and healthy hydration. Nuun Vitamins is offered in 6 flavors, 2 of which contain caffeine!

1 tablet = 15 calories & 2 grams of sugar

Contains 11 vitamins and minerals designed to keep you healthy + hydrated

Non-GMO certified, gluten-, dairy-, and soy-free

Vegan friendly

Stevia leaf provides a crisp, light sweetness

My Thoughts: I've been trying to make it habit of drinking Nuun Vitamins a few times throughout the week to get in a dose of vitamins. I love the idea of combining hydration with vitamins. For some reason, I feel like I'm absorbing them more since it takes me longer to drink it rather than just swallowing a few pills.

Recommended Flavor: Grapefruit Orange

When do I drink each one?

Before a workout: Nuun Sport + Caffeine

Throughout the day: Nuun Vitamins or Nuun Sport (if I ran that morning)

Before bed: Nuun Rest or Nuun Sport (if I'm doing a long run the next day)

When I'm starting to feel sick: Nuun Immunity

Question of the Day: Have you ever tried Nuun? If so, which type and flavor are your favorite?

Friday Five: 5 Things I’m Loving This Week

I went all day yesterday thinking it was Friday so now I'm glad it's actually Friday! We have an in-service day for work and I am actually looking forward to a quiet day that consists of a Google training and IEP writing time. Fingers crossed the day flies by because I have a busy yet fun weekend ahead of me! Tomorrow my precious nephew, Tommy, turns two and he is having a Cars themed birthday party to celebrate! Most of my Saturday will be spent with him and then Sunday we are meeting with our officiant {a family friend} in the afternoon before heading to a Phillies game. I'm tired just thinking about it all, haha. Before I head out to get this in-service over and done with, I'm sharing some things I've been loving this week!

1. Torani SF Vanilla Syrup

I picked this syrup up back in the fall so I could make my DIY London Fog {insert heart eyes here}. This past weekend I realized I should be putting this in all of my tea drinks. Let me tell you, total game changer! I've been putting a splash of vanilla syrup in my morning tea all week and it honestly feels like I picked up a fancy tea drink from Starbucks. The best part is, this brand offers a BUNCH of different flavors {both regular AND sugar free!} so there is an option for everyone. I'm currently eyeing up the SF chocolate chip cookie dough, SF s'mores, and SF cinnamon vanilla flavors!

2. To Do Lists

This might sound goofy, but I've really been loving to do lists lately! I can tend to be a bit scatterbrained when life starts getting busy, so to do lists are a must to keep me in check. Lately I've had a list for everything {the wedding, home, work, etc.} and the greatest feeling has been checking off items. I love feeling productive!

3. Free Nights

This one might sound silly as well, but this was the first week in what feels like months that John and I didn't have a jam-packed schedule. As much as I love keeping myself busy, it felt so good to come home most days and not have to hurry from one place to another. This gave me time to get some random housework done, do some wedding planning, and most importantly, RELAX!

4. Wedding Planning

I know my list is a lot of non-tangible items this week. That wasn't intentional! Due to our free time in the past week, John and I have gotten a good amount of wedding planning done and it's been all fun stuff. I won't lie, not all of the wedding planning process has been super fun for me. As much as I'm a planner, it can just get stressful at times when you have so much to do and can't figure out how to prioritize these items. Luckily, I'm at the fun part where I'm just piecing together some stuff and it has been so enjoyable!

5. Warm Nuun

Every day during my prep period, which is around 1:30 pm, I make a cup of hot tea. It's just that little extra boost I need to make it to 3:05. On Wednesday, while going in my desk drawer to grab out a tea bag, I saw my Nuun Immunity tube and had a brilliant idea: mix a tablet with hot water for a warm orange citrus drink! I've heard of people mixing the ginger lemonade flavor or the Nuun Rest with warm water so I figured why not. Well let me tell you, it actually tasted pretty good! I made some on Thursday, too, and I loved it. I want to try it with other flavors eventually.

Question of the Day: What is something you're loving this week?

Friday Five: 5 Things I’m Loving This Week

TGIF! Actually, this week seemed to fly by so I can't complain. Maybe that's because I took a sick day on Wednesday, which I spent the majority of sleeping/watching TV in bed. Tonight we are going to dinner at his parents and then tomorrow John is running a 5K with me! I'm pretty pumped that it's our first race of 2019, but it feels so strange to run such a short distance for a race. It's been a looong time since I've done a 5K. I hope everyone has a fun weekend planned! Keep reading to see what 5 things I've been loving this week!

1. Nuun Rest

I finally got my hands on some Nuun Rest and it does not disappoint! To start, both flavors {Blackberry Vanilla and Lemon Chamomile} are delicious. I'm not even sure I could pick a favorite. I've had a glass of Nuun Rest almost every night since I've received it and I definitely feel a difference in the way it relaxes my body. It almost feels like it is calming me down, allowing me to fall asleep quicker than usual. After reading up on the info sent to us Nuun Ambassadors, I learned it contains magnesium, tart cherry, sodium, and potassium which supports the body's natural relaxation responses by calming the mind and relaxing the body, reducwa inflammation and muscle soreness, aids in fluid and nutrient retention, promotes muscle relaxation, and prevents cramping. I'd have to say this is true!

2. Tzatziki Sauce + Pretzel Crisps

While throwing my lunch together one day this week, I had the idea to pack tzatziki sauce instead of hummus to dip my pretzels in. What a great decision it was because the two flavors together is delicious! The crisp cucumber flavor cuts the saltiness of the pretzels and just has a great taste!

3. Pineapple

My mom somehow ended up with a ton of pineapples and as always, offered some to me! While I was over on Sunday, I used her fancy pineapple cover remover/sliced thing  and brought myself home two containers full of fresh pineapple slices. They have been a delicious addition to my lunch this week as my go-tos lately have just been apples and clementines. 

4. Pita Chips

I bought some pita bread for lunches this week so I could make chicken gyros. I got an idea the other night to try making my own pita chips in the air fryer and they turned out sooo tasty! After some internet searching, I ended up cutting the pita bread up with a pizza cutter, brushing them with a tad of olive oil and sprinkling on some Himalayan salt, preheating the air fryer to 360 and popping them in for 10 minutes, shaking the basket twice during the 10 mins. While they were super good, they were a bit too crispy so later I tried it for about 5-7 minutes and they were even better. I highly recommend!

5. Earrings

For years now, I’ve been pretty set on wearing the same earrings every day, without worrying about changing them (read: I’m lazy). Last year for my birthday John even bought me amethyst earrings that were real silver so they wouldn’t turn my ears green after awhile. Ever since I switched up my earrings for a party a couple weeks ago, I’ve been loving changing my earrings each day to dress up my outfit. I’m not one to get super dressy for work so the earrings help me feel a bit fancier. 

Question of the Day: What is something you're loving this week?

Friday Five: 5 Things I’m Loving This Week

Is it me or did this week feel like it lasted 30 days?!? The days just seemed to drag on and I kept thinking the next day was Friday starting as early as Tuesday... Thankfully it’s FINALLY Friday which means we just have to get through one more work day before it’s the weekend! My weekend will be partially busy and partially relaxing. Tomorrow afternoon I have a party and then Sunday one of my best friends and future bridesmaids is coming to visit  so we can go get her dress (yay!). I haven’t seen her in awhile so I am excited! Read on to see what I’ve been loving this past week!

1. Being a Nuun Ambassador!

Last week I got awesome news that I am a Nuun Ambassador for 2019! This is my first ambassadorship and I am so excited for this opportunity. I'm still learning what this title entails, but so far I know that I'll have to opportunity to share the importance of hydration with others which is a big passion of mine. I know hearing that hydration is something I'm passionate about, but it's the truth. I 100% believe that staying hydrated can solve a lot of problems for people and it's so dang easy! I'm sure I'll be sharing more about my ambassadorship soon, as the information becomes available. For now, I'm just enjoying getting to know the other ambassadors through social media.

2. The Ranch

John and I were done all the shows we've been binge watching on Netflix lately so we went searching for a new one. My parents had told us about The Ranch so we figured we'd give it a shot! I'll have to be honest, it took me a few episodes to really get into it but that isn't uncommon for me. The show revolves around a dad and his sons who run a ranch, and all the drama within all three of their lives. It's a pretty funny show with some emotional moments so it's really a show for everyone. And I'm not gonna lie, some of these episodes had me more emotional than when I watch This Is Us... There are currently 6 seasons (or parts, as they refer them to) and we finished all 6 parts as of Sunday night! Each part has about 10 episodes and the episodes are only about 30 minutes, so it wasn't hard to binge watch.

3. Soup

This has probably been something I loved in the past but it's still stands true! The cold, rainy weather has made me want soup for lunch each day this week and I'm not complaining about that! A few weeks ago, I had stocked up on Progresso soup and that has been my go to all week. I also had some of my grandmom's homemade veggie soup one of the days since she sent me home with a container of it on Monday. Something about cold, rainy weather just has me craving warm soup!

4. #31HealthyHabits Challenge

Back before the end of December, Gazelle Sports shared on their Instagram a challenge for people to participate in during the month of January. Each day presented you with a task that worked towards building healthy habits within your life. I like this challenge because the tasks aren't all fitness related. They also focus on mental habits and self-care, which is something I definitely wanted to work on. You can still join in on the challenge! Read their blog post here for more information and a copy of the calendar!

5. Blueberries

My go to fruits this time of year seem to be apples and bananas because berries are hard to find for a decent price. I was thrilled when I saw blueberries for $2 a pint at my local grocery store this past weekend and stocked up on a few! They have been such a nice treat all week. I'm not gonna lie when I say they make me think it's summer... until I look outside...

Question of the Day: What is something you're loving this week?

My Week in Pictures IV

I'm not sure how it is already Monday but I guess it's time to start a new work week. This past week seems like a blur between New Years Eve/Day and getting back into the swing of things at work after such a long break. While looking back at my photos from the week, I realized there aren't many. I guess this either means my week was really busy or I was exhausted the whole week... Both are possible haha. I hope everyone has a great first full week of the new year!



My sister, brother-in-law, nephew, and brother joined us for New Years Eve! My nephew has a huge obsession with Dexter so he was pretty much by his side the whole night.

We had wings from the best little restaurant for an appetizer and then made individual homemade pizzas for dinner.

On Wednesday night, John and I used our new air fryer to make delicious chicken tenders! We then ate them while watching Bird Box. We both thought it was pretty good but weren't huge fans of the ending.

Dexter was a snuggle bug all week and we aren't complaining over here!

I got the news on Thursday that I am a 2019 Nuun ambassador! I'm super excited and can't wait to share my love of Nuun with everyone!

John's mom got me a mustard yellow shirt for Christmas and I've literally never owned anything that color so I was pretty proud of the outfit I put together.

I crossed one thing off my '19 in 2019' list on Saturday when I bought myself  reusable produce bags. One steps closer to helping the environment!

After relaxing most of Sunday morning, I finally pushed myself to go for a 6 mile run, part of which was on a trail I found at my local park.

We ended our weekend by visiting John's best friend at his new house. We got to get a tour, had a yummy dinner, and then played the Christmas Story version of Monopoly.

Question of the Day: Did you do anything fun for New Years Eve/Day?