Friday Faves

Hi friends! Happy Friday! Anyone else feel like this week has been a weird blur? I feel like Iโ€™m just now crawling out from under the avalanche of cookies, cocktails, gift wrapping, and fun. Iโ€™ve been enjoying this in-between time a little tooooo much, and I’m kind of dreading the girls going back to school. Weโ€™ve been spending a lot of time playing outside (even though it recently got cold!), watching movies in our pajamas, and enjoying little adventures.

Birdies brunch

Walking with livi bear

(Boots on sale right now)

Tom and the rose

Thank you so much for checking back in here after a couple of days off. Iโ€™m back to regular blogging action and have ideas for fun and fresh content heading into the New Year (especially after all of your incredible survey responses).

Iโ€™d love to hear about what youโ€™ve been up to this week! Any fun New Yearsโ€™ plans? Weโ€™ll probably order Indian food and watch the ball drop here at home. 

In usual Friday fashion, here are some faves from the week and around the web. Please share something youโ€™re loving in the comments below if youโ€™d like to join in the fun. 

Holiday:

Planning for the New Year. If you still havenโ€™t ordered your 2018 planner, you can use my Erin Condren link for $10 off. (Use code PLANON2018 for 20% off all planners right now!) If youโ€™re still deciding on a 2018 planner, check out my KITLife review here, too.

Iโ€™m making a list of all of my 2018 goals and canโ€™t wait to hear about yours. 

planning

Some of my previous New Yearsโ€™ posts:

Getting inspired for the New Year

2017 goals are here (it was fun to go back and read these! I accomplished quite a few, and dropped the ball on some others. #standard)

Fitness gear for the New Year

Party recipe inspiration:

Food Networkโ€™s suggestions

Kombucha cocktails

Seared halibut with Romesco sauce

My fave kale salad

Random:

This sleep mask. It was in my stocking from the Pilot, and I LOVE IT. Iโ€™ve been sleeping really lightly lately – weโ€™re still going through some major sleep disturbances with the kiddos – and was having the worst time falling back asleep after being up. (Once Iโ€™m up, Iโ€™m UP. Iโ€™ve thought about just waking up to start the day, but alas, itโ€™s like 3am.) This eye mask is like my shut-off button. I slide it over my face, and farewell, world. The silk is super soft and luxe.  

Sleep mask

This little cast iron pan was also in my stocking. So perfect for my morning egg patty. ๐Ÿ™‚

Hamiltonโ€™s America. If youโ€™re a fellow Hamilton-obsessed friend, this is a must-see. I tried to record it on PBS but the recording failed, so I found the full thing on YouTube. Thankful for the internets. 

Hamilton America logo

Source

Good reads:

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. My friend Danielle once described her favorite type of books as cupcakes with buttercream frosting. Not overly complex, but meant to be devoured and thoroughly enjoyed. This book is my cupcake. Itโ€™s not too dark or intense (yet?), but completely fascinating. I started it earlier this week and am sucked in. Itโ€™s type of book you dread finishing because you donโ€™t want it to be over. (Also, if you have new cupcake book recommendations, please send them my way!)

Seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is about a young writer whoโ€™s given the daunting task of writing the autobiography for a famous Hollywood starlet. The book delves into Evelynโ€™s life (which had previously been an object of extreme speculation) and is segmented into seven main pieces: one for each of her husbands. Itโ€™s entirely captivating, and I highly recommend it so far.

Living with anxiety and depression. I loved reading this heartfelt and informative post from Lee. As someone who experiences anxiety on a regular basis, and has struggled with postpartum depression and anxiety twice, I think itโ€™s so important to share these messages to reduce the stigma. Itโ€™s ok not to be ok and to get help when you need it. 

Fitness:

The daily Orangetheory workouts. While Iโ€™m living a roadtrip away from a studio, it helps me get my OTF fix at the gym. They have a water rower so I can do everything I need to do! Now if I could just find a coach to yell at me in a motivational and loving way, thatโ€™d be cool. 

Otf workout

Killer legs and glutes workout.

Great tips for 2018 fitness goals.

Eats and recipes:

Tempeh bacon is life.

Another reason to take a break from dieting.

Thrive Market goodies! If itโ€™s your first time ordering, my referral link will get you 25% off. This past weekโ€™s order included a lavender candle, Paleo coconut cereal (uhh I could eat the whole box), snacks for the girls, Four Sigmatic reishi mushroom hot cocoa, and a couple of sheet masks. Some of my favorite Thrive groceries are in this post.

Coconut flakes

Hope you have a happy Friday and end of 2017!

xo

Gina

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20 Comments

  1. Cassie on December 29, 2017 at 6:48 am

    Gosh, it is so cold here! I’m braving the elements today but me and little have been hibernating at home playing with new Christmas toys!

  2. heather @Lunging Through Life on December 29, 2017 at 6:52 am

    Ohh I need that mask! Nolan has been waking sometimes and I struggle so badly to get back to sleep. As soon as I get up I’m just awake.

  3. Emily @ Pizza & Pull-Ups on December 29, 2017 at 7:33 am

    Those daily OTF workouts are awesome. Hope you have a great weekend Gina.

  4. Carrie this fit chick on December 29, 2017 at 8:55 am

    tempeh bacon– woah! Need to try that. I’m not doing 2018 goals this year, but my boyfriend and I always make a bucket list together!

  5. Amanda on December 29, 2017 at 9:29 am

    I was up at 3am this week, too, and thought about starting the day, but too early to walk. So I emptied the dishwasher and then attempted to go back to sleep. It was rough, so I feel your pain! My 2018 goals involve an attorney and financial planner, so I’ll focus on the fun things, like what books I want to read. Thanks for that recommendation. I’ll send some your way, too.

    Related to your obsession with Hamilton…see “The Greatest Showman.” I saw it Christmas Day, and it.was.awesome. I want to see it again it was so fantastic.

    Have a great weekend, and here’s to a happy 2018! <3

  6. Elissa on December 29, 2017 at 10:45 am

    My kids sleep (2 & 5) has been horrible this week! It started with the moon change (they always get up for a couple of hours!) and then pretty much the same through Christmas for my almost 2 year old. Thankfully heโ€™s back to normal now. Weโ€™re thinking of moving him into a bed, since he sleeps better in our bed than his crib…how did P transition?

    • Fitnessista on December 29, 2017 at 10:54 am

      the transition for p was really easy. she LOVES her big girl bed and is sleeping so much better. liv is the one that’s been having some trouble, but that’s been on and off for the past 6 years.

  7. Janice on December 29, 2017 at 11:04 am

    Oh my gosh, I’ll definitely be watching Hamilton’s America, thank you for the link. This week I’m loving the caffeine-free Energy Red Tea Blend from Teatulia, https://www.teatulia.com/energy-teas/. Delicious and a good healthy feeling burst of energy as I break up with my boyfriend caffeine!

  8. Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious on December 29, 2017 at 11:17 am

    This week HAS been so weird! I don’t know what day it is. And it’s been crazy hot in Arizona. It’s supposed to be 80 today. Doesn’t feel like December AT ALL. Happy New Year!

  9. Juliana on December 29, 2017 at 11:35 am

    Did you see this comic? So much truth:
    https://www.instagram.com/p/BdMNZywhCn-/?hl=en&taken-by=instachaaz
    Happy New Year! ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. Fiona @ Get Fit Fiona on December 29, 2017 at 12:30 pm

    I love hearing about the goals people are going to be working on in 2018. I’m always on the look for more books to read, I’m adding this one to my list. Thanks for the recommendation.

    • Fitnessista on December 29, 2017 at 9:57 pm

      yes! i hope you love it!

  11. Alyssa on December 29, 2017 at 3:49 pm

    I loved The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo too! I read it straight through on a flight from Germany to the States and couldn’t stop!

    • Fitnessista on December 29, 2017 at 9:56 pm

      omg i don’t blame you! it’s so hard to go to bed every night because i can’t put it down

  12. Kayla on December 29, 2017 at 10:20 pm

    You should definitely read other books by Taylor Reid Jenkins. They’re a bit “fluffier” than Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but still a lot of fun!

    • Fitnessista on December 29, 2017 at 10:35 pm

      ohhh i’ll definitely check them out!

  13. Alicia on December 30, 2017 at 9:24 am

    I love these posts! Now I have a new book idea! Thanks

    • Fitnessista on December 31, 2017 at 8:40 pm

      hope you enjoy it, too!

  14. Tammy on December 30, 2017 at 8:44 pm

    These are my favourite posts! I love getting recommendations for good reads, beauty and fashion, it helps me to try something that I wouldn’t normally try otherwise. I was looking for a new book to read so I just bought this one on my kindle, so thank you and Happy New Year Gina!

    • Fitnessista on December 31, 2017 at 8:40 pm

      thank you so much! i love hearing about everyone else’s faves, too ๐Ÿ™‚
      happy new year!

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