Friday Faves

Hey hey! The weekend is here! Whatโ€™s going on this fine Friday? Any fun plans over the next few days? Weโ€™re looking forward to enjoying a low-key weekend together, and soaking up the last bit of summer before school starts for Liv! Iโ€™m thinking a trip to the splash pad and pool are in order. Other than that, weโ€™ll be spending time with friends, catching up on chores and work stuff, and just chillinโ€™. Iโ€™d love to hear about what you have going on!

Now itโ€™s time for the weekly Friday Faves party. I love to share favorite things from the week and around the web with ya. Please share any faves in the comments section, if youโ€™d like to join in the fun!

Green smoothie

(A green smoothie with collagen, vanilla protein, almond butter, MCT oil, almond milk, and spinach)

This off-shoulder dress from Stitch Fix. When I opened the box, I think I said, โ€œOMGYESโ€ aloud. Itโ€™s everything I never knew I needed. Itโ€™s flowy, flattering, has gorgeous embroidered detail, and is super comfy while still *special* and different. 

parker banks dress in aquarius

Iโ€™ve worn it for date night and also to meet up with the girls for brunch.

stitch fix dress

(Dress // bag)

Stitch Fix can be hit or miss, but the hits are usually pretty solid ones, like this dress.

parker banks dress in aquarius

My Not-so-perfect Life. I was looking for a good fluffy, fun book, and this is it. I started reading A Man Called Ove, and wanted to love it, but by the time I was about halfway through, I called it quits. Itโ€™s rare that I DNF a book, but have vowed to myself that Iโ€™m not going to read things Iโ€™m not enjoying (unless theyโ€™re super valuable and Iโ€™m learning a lot). So, I decided to switch to this one for some total summer guilty reading pleasure, and it has been perfect for that. (I used to LOVE the Shopaholic series back in the day, and this book reminded me why Sophie Kinsella is such an engaging writer.)

My not so perfect life

A 90-minute running playlist for your next long run!

This mint pesto pasta looks amazing.

Brunch at Buttermilk Kitchen.

Butermilk kitchen

YOU GUYS. This is a must-do if youโ€™re traveling through Atlanta. We saw it on a Food Network show, and the Pilot was immediately intrigued by their chicken biscuit (fried chicken breast on a biscuit with housemade red pepper jelly, served with pimento cheese grits and house pickles) and I wanted to try their lox plate (gravlox style salmon cured with beets, served with onions, capers, farm greens, cream cheese and Jerusalem bagel). We had to made a day trip to ATL for an appointment, so we stopped into Buttermilk Kitchen on the way.

We shared the deviled eggs,

Deviled eggs

(the pickle on top was perfection),

and he got the fried chicken omelet (sadly, we missed the window for the chicken biscuit, so weโ€™ll be back),

Omelet and a hottie

and I got the lox plate. It was the best smoked salmon Iโ€™ve ever had. The beets gave it the most gorgeous deep red color and a slight sweetness, while the salmon itself wasnโ€™t too salty and was so fresh. Itโ€™s hard to tell from the picture, but it was also a generous serving; a heaping pile of salmon goodness. 

Lox plate

We had to bolt fairly quickly, but made the wise choice to take some banana pudding to-go. 

Banana pudding

We canโ€™t wait to go back and take the kiddos with us! Everything on the menu looked great.

This Macklemore song. I LOVE MACKLEMORE, and this is just as catchy and pump-you-up-ish as many of his other songs.

 

I canโ€™t wait to try this smoothie recipe.

A unique take on chicken salad.

This top! I ordered it from the Nordstrom sale and I was surprised by the quality and the print. Itโ€™s bold floral and fits perfectly! Canโ€™t wait to wear it with skinny jeans and booties.

Meal prep for the week!

Stretches for tight hips.

Happy Friday, friends!

xo

Gina

*Congrats to the winner of our sneaky TRX giveaway: Stephanie S.!

Dress pics: Lindsay Colson

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36 Comments

  1. Bethany on August 4, 2017 at 7:05 am

    Salmon and then banana pudding sounds like a wonderful meal!

  2. Julie on August 4, 2017 at 7:23 am

    Gina I had the same problem with “A Man Called Ove”- I am struggling to get through it and it expired from my overdrive account lol- I keep waiting for it to get better and I’m in the last 100 pages- still waiting :/

    • Fitnessista on August 5, 2017 at 10:49 pm

      that makes me feel better that i’m not alone! i thought he was funny and didn’t mind the writing, but wasn’t into the story at all

      • Sarah on August 9, 2017 at 5:57 am

        I honestly loved “A Man Called Ove”, just goes to show, we’re all different! I agree that there is no point struggling through a book you’re not enjoying. There are so many books you will love to read, why waste time on those you’re not so into?

  3. Jen on August 4, 2017 at 7:24 am

    I’m about to give up on A Man Called Ove too. It is so highly recommended but it’s such a snooze fest, so disappointing.

    • Fitnessista on August 5, 2017 at 10:48 pm

      i keep wondering what i’m missing but i just couldn’t get into it

  4. Stephanie S. on August 4, 2017 at 7:41 am

    Ah I love Sophie Kinsella! I can always count on her books for being an enjoyable, light read, and they almost always make me laugh out loud – probably the only author who does that! If you haven’t read it before, I think “The Undomestic Goddess” is my favorite book from her, although I pretty much love all of them.

    And ah, I wonder if I’m the lucky Stephanie S. for the sneaky giveaway!

    • Fitnessista on August 5, 2017 at 10:48 pm

      i’ve read most of her books, too, and loved the undomestic goddess! she’s such a fun writer ๐Ÿ™‚
      and YES THAT’S YOU! please email me and we’ll get it shipped out this week

  5. Laura @ Laura Likes Design on August 4, 2017 at 7:52 am

    Oh my goodness, that banana pudding with whipped cream sounds amazing right now and it’s only 6am.

    • Fitnessista on August 5, 2017 at 10:47 pm

      i want some right now
      hope you’re enjoying the weekend!

  6. Carrie on August 4, 2017 at 8:44 am

    I love deviled eggs! Such a good app. Also, that dress is gorgeous! Love the print, but love the flow and style even more ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Fitnessista on August 5, 2017 at 10:47 pm

      i love deviled eggs, too! they’re definitely a southern thing because i’ve had more deviled eggs in the past 3 months than i have in probably 10 years hahah

  7. Kristin on August 4, 2017 at 8:45 am

    Buttermilk Kitchen for the win!

    • Fitnessista on August 5, 2017 at 10:46 pm

      omg it was amazing

  8. Mari on August 4, 2017 at 9:56 am

    Banana pudding sounds amazing!! Also, I’m glad I read this post because it was a great reminder that Sophie Kinsella released a new book! I can’t wait to read it! Her books are always so funny and make me laugh out loud! That Stichfix dress is so pretty!!

    • Fitnessista on August 5, 2017 at 10:46 pm

      you will LOVE it! i’m at the end now and it just keeps getting better and better

  9. Fiona @ Get Fit Fiona on August 4, 2017 at 10:28 am

    I really enjoy Sophie Kinsella books. Like you said, they’re really fun, super fast reads that you don’t have to think too much about.

    • Fitnessista on August 5, 2017 at 10:46 pm

      yes! perfect summer fun books

  10. Stephanie @ Box Jumps and Bows on August 4, 2017 at 11:16 am

    Great hip stretches!

  11. Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious on August 4, 2017 at 11:18 am

    I used to be obsessed with the shopoholic series! I need to checkout this book for fun reading. P.S. the hubby takes some good pics! You look gorgeous!

    • Fitnessista on August 5, 2017 at 10:45 pm

      thank you, friend!! ohh the hubby did not take those haha. lindsay did!

  12. Emily @ Pizza & Pull-ups on August 4, 2017 at 11:32 am

    That dress is too cute on you!

    • Fitnessista on August 5, 2017 at 10:45 pm

      thank you!!

  13. jordan @ dancing for donuts on August 4, 2017 at 12:36 pm

    that dress looks absolutely gorgeous on you!! and i almost picked up that book at the airport last weekend but was waiting to see if i could just get it at the library. can’t wait to read it!! have a beautiful weekend ๐Ÿ™‚

  14. Becky @ The Bex Factor on August 4, 2017 at 12:59 pm

    That’s too bad you didn’t enjoy A Man Called Ove. It was one of my favourite books this year. I laughed out loud, I cried, and I’ve recommended it to many people.

    • Fitnessista on August 5, 2017 at 10:44 pm

      so many people LOVE it, and i really wanted to love it. i just couldn’t get into it :/

  15. Ingrid on August 4, 2017 at 1:02 pm

    Oh, I’m so sad about Ove. It was a struggle at first, but I fell in love with Ove and Backman with that book and have now read all but one of Backman’s books. They did make a Swedish movie of Ove, so maybe watch that and then see if you want to go back and finish the book? Your new dress is beautiful and looks totally perfect on you!

    • Fitnessista on August 5, 2017 at 10:44 pm

      that’s a great idea! i’ll totally watch the movie and then decide if i want to go back and finish

  16. Tracy on August 4, 2017 at 2:35 pm

    Your dress is darling! You look beautiful. It was made for you!

    I loved the Shopaholic series, too. They’re just plain fun to read! I’ll have to get that one.

    We are engulfed in decorating projects over here this weekend! Surrounded by paint cans & brushes & boxes & furniture deliveries. It will be worth it when we’re finished, but my world is a little turned upside down right now!

    Have a great weekend ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Fitnessista on August 5, 2017 at 10:44 pm

      thank you so much!
      your decorating projects sound like a lot of fun. it’s going to be amazing when it all comes together, but you’re right- in the middle of it, it’s pure chaos (but worth it) ๐Ÿ™‚
      hope you have a wonderful weekend with your fam!

  17. Anne on August 4, 2017 at 4:51 pm

    Consider picking it up again! It had such a redemption in the end! I love the book and bought it for everyone for last Christmas ๐Ÿ™‚ Kinsella does have tons of fun light reads, but nothing ever sticks with you like Ove did. Anyway, cute dress ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Fitnessista on August 5, 2017 at 10:43 pm

      that’s such a valid point. i’ve read so many of her books and can’t remember any of the details about them. i really wanted to like ove! maybe i’ll give it another go later on

  18. Kelli @ Hungry Hobby on August 5, 2017 at 9:27 am

    I felt like stitchfix was really great forever then the last two boxes have been disappointing I hope the next one gives me something solid like cuz it’s adorable!

    • Fitnessista on August 5, 2017 at 10:42 pm

      that happened to me for a little while, too. then all of a sudden they were home runs again!

  19. Lisa @ Lisa 3D on August 6, 2017 at 12:09 pm

    I love that off the shoulder dress! Very pretty!

  20. Hillary on August 8, 2017 at 2:52 pm

    That dress was made for you!!

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