Friday Faves
Hi! Happy Friday! How’s your year going? 😉
We spent New Years Eve together as a little family. I feel like New Years is so different each year: last year, we were at a friend’s party; the year before, I was uncomfortably pregnant and SO ready to meet Liv; and the two years before that, the Pilot wasn’t home. It was fun to create our own tradition. We decided to check out the Christmas lights at the zoo, and it was wonderful. We bundled up, rode the tractor-driven trolley around to see the lights, and finished it off with a late dinner at Queenstown Public House in Little Italy.
I think Queenstown is what it would look like if Kyle and Meg owned a restaurant: a quaint home with a vintage-meets-modern vibe. On the patio, there were rows of lamps, succulents, wood benches, and unique decor. The food was AWESOME, too.
I enjoyed this festive vanilla ginger champagne cocktail,
an Ahi Niçoise salad,
and we shared an enormous pizookie with ice cream for dessert. It was perfect. I was also crashed long before the Times Square ball dropped, and slept until 8:30 the next day. Happy New Year, indeed. I hope you had a safe and happy New Years Eve, too! 🙂
Here are some faves from the week and around the web:
Organizing for 2015. My Erin Condren planner arrived (along with some adorable succulent stationery!), and it’s been fun to take a look and plan for the New Year. We have some travel coming up, in addition to projects and adventures for 2015. I can’t wait to see what the new year will bring; fingers crossed for a good one.
Thank you so much to POPSUGAR for featuring my Barre Blast workout!
I thought I was over “Let It Go” until Lea Michele sang it.
The 3 muscles women neglect (and how to strengthen them).
SNOW IN TUCSON. I wasn’t even there for this, and I think I’m just as excited as everyone else! It’s pretty magical to see snow in the desert, and there’s something truly awesome about snow-covered cacti.
Santa brought a new Clarisonic. It’s been nice to get back in the exfoliation game. My sad winter skin is so thankful.
An awesome collection of clean Paleo recipes.
Winter Shape Up is on the way! Wondering what to do in the meantime? I set up a bonus two weeks of workouts, which will be delivered to newsletter subscribers Monday! If you’d like to receive yours, sign up below:
Lean and clean in 2015! 🙂
What are you up to this weekend? What’s on the fitness schedule? See ya later today with some inspiration boards and Fitness Fashion Friday. Per some requests, I’ll have my week of workouts and meal plan up on Sunday over here, too.
Happy Friday!
xoxo
Gina
Workout of the day: this blast and burn circuit! Perfect for a sweaty strength and cardio combo.
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Isn’t it crazy it snowed in AZ? It snowed here in Phoenix but melted when it hit the ground. I only remember once before seeing snow here. It’s too cold!!! Have a great weekend!
i think you read minds. i came on here to find something to add to my workout tomorrow morning, saw the “2 weeks bonus workouts” *YAY* “….on monday” *AW:(* “workout of the day” … “YAY”! now i dont have to think and decide ! 🙂
and weather is so weird! It was 50 in ohio on christmas!!
Can’t wait for WSU! Loved it last year! I’m also really happy to see you will be posting your meals & fitness plans for the week again – they always inspire me!
Your cocktail sounds delicious, I love ginger! And three cheers for Erin C planners! I am planning out our 2015 travel today and I’m already getting excited for the adventures to come!
I can’t believe Liv has only been around for such a short time! Craziness. Glad you had a fun-filled New Year’s!
That salad looks so incredible! Just completed a 13 mile run and was so glad to get the long one done on Friday to chill the rest of the weekend!
That cocktail sounds amazing, I am sure it would totally be my taste! 🙂
I actually didi sprints this morning since you reminded us to do so here on the blog 🙂 And now I am finished with my CrossFit workout and will be off to the Swiss Alps to watch bobsledge, so fun!
I loveeeeee planners. I used the Erin Condren one last year and thought it was pretty awesome. I went with the day designer this year which is a bit more day to day focused but I think you’re going to love it. They even have an insert you can get for meal planning.
My biggest goal for this weekend is to un- christmas my house. Happy weekend!
Your New Year’s Eve sounds perfect! I know what you mean about being excited for snow that you weren’t even there to see. This week Orange County, CA got some snow and even though my hubby and I moved back to New England this year it’s so fun to see our old neck of the woods getting snow!!!
What a fun New Years! That cocktail sounds delicious! We were kid free so opted for a mini getaway to Sonoma, one of my favorite wine towns in the Napa area. It was fun but I’m ready to get back on track with eating and fitness!
That planner is super cute. Glad to hear you had a great New Year! I can relate… ours was SO different than going out last year or even years before when we used to throw annual NYE parties. Too funny!
What a fun NYE! Austin has been absolutely freezing too. It never gets this cold. Yay for a great 2015 ahead. 🙂
Looks like a fantastic New Year’s with your family! I ordered an Erin Condren planner for Christmas and can’t wait to get mine in the mail so I can start planning for 2015!
Happy New Year! We enjoyed Zoo Lights this year, too. Waiting after Christmas might be a good idea for next year – the lines were crazy. Can’t wait for your book – it’s on its way!
After feeling kind of ‘blah’ these last few days, would like to get in a few quality sweat seshes and also need yoga back in my life like ‘whoa.’ Also, supes excited to dive into someone’s new little book that just dropped 😉 #hiitit
Whooo, the work out for today was at a perfect time! My gym was closed and I did it in my kitchen. 🙂
Happy New Year! This weekend, I am finally getting around to watching Transcend.
i have been trying out the new metabolic effect workouts this past week, hun! omg they are TOUGH but i really really love them 🙂 metcon with strength before hand so i still get my heavy lifting in 😉 i would have loved that salad!
I love that you are loving these! So tough, but so good.
My fitness schedule involves lots of PiYo!
Love the planner!! Just checked the link out! I have one that’s from Sept of last year into the fall of this year, but I’m always tempted to start the new year with a new one. I like mine right now, but I would like it just a liiiiiiittle more tailored to me. (#firstworldproblems?? haha)
Hi Gina! I have to launch BODYPUMP 92 and BODYATTACK 87 back-to-back on Wednesday, so my workouts for the weekend will include practice and prep! Happy Friday:)
thank you for reminding me to practice bodypump haha
I did a circuit workout this morning and plan on a spin class tomorrow. Excited for the wsu! I have fallen into a routine that I love, but at the same time i need to shake it up.
Happy New Year! It looks like you had a good one! That vanilla ginger champagne cocktail looks AMAZING.
I’m pumped for my first Zumba class of 2015 this Sunday!! 😀
I just did lunch at Queenstown with one of the designers and it was fun to hear how and why they chose each little detail. And the food was fantastic too. If you ate red meat, I’d say GET THE BURGER! 🙂
Happy New Year to you and the fam! Looks like you had the perfect NYE.
it was SO GOOD. i can’t wait to go back! hope you’re having a wonderful new year so far <3
I am so over crazy NYEs. I too was in bed long before the ball dropped. Love your Erin Condren planner. I don’t know what life would be like without mine. Just ordered the 2015 edition a few days ago. Have a nice weekend!
Sounds like a fun NYE! I’ve heard so many great things about the Erin Condren planners! I actually ordered the Simplified Planner this year and love it so far!!
Our NYE has definitely evolved over the years as well. I have to say I enjoy the quiet evening at home that it’s become much more than the parties of years past!
This weekend I’m soaking up time with my kids…. back to school on Monday 🙁
Have you ever done a review of the planner you have? I am trying to decide if it is worth the money.
there’s a pretty full review here: http://fitnessista.com/2014/12/favorite-things-giveaway-erin-condren/ let me know if you have any questions! it’s how i keep my life together haha
Thank you! Sorry I missed the giveaway but just ordered mine last night:)!
Now that we are home from winter travels, I am back into my regular fitness routine. Yesterday, I did your Frost HIIT workout for a quick blast after we arrived home, and today I was back at the gym with a Body Combat class. Tomorrow will be my first Body Pump of the new year.
Looking forward to the arrival of HIIT It! later today. And of course I am looking forward to WSU 2015!
yeahhhh! so happy you liked the frost hiit; it’s one of my go-tos. so excited to launch the new bodypump release in a couple of weeks!
hope you enjoy the book! thank you so much for ordering <3 xoxo
OMG! I got my HIIT It! Book today in the mail! ???????????? I couldn’t be more excited!
YES! thank you so much for ordering! <3 please let me know what you think. xoxo
I did the build and burn tabata workout today and it KILLED ME. (in the best way possible). hehe.
YESSSSS *high five*
Loved this post! The “3 Muscles Women Neglect” article was great – I had leg day today and decided last minute to throw in an extra hamstring exercise – glad I did! Happy New Year!
wahoo! glad you enjoyed it, too 🙂 happy new year!
I am obsessed with my Erin Condren Life Planner! I know you have discussed it a bit before, but I would love to see a post with more details on the inside of your planner, specifically how you organize it, use it, etc.
sure i can definitely do that 🙂
Oh my gosh, I could totally use a personalized journal/calendar/planner! They’re so much more special and make me more motivated to go by schedule.
Can’t wait for Winter Shape Up!
Sounds like it was a wonderful NYE! I had a great one too surrounded with friends which was so lovely! That cocktail sounds awesome too! Vanilla and ginger + champagne sounds like a unique, yummy combo! And can’t wait to check out the paleo recipes and Let it Go!