Friday Faves + Hiya Pitaya
Hi friends! Happy Friday! Any fun plans this weekend?? I’m excited to spend it with the fam in Vegas, baby. Mon Ami brunch, I can taste you already.
In standard Friday fashion, here are some faves from the week and around the web. I always love sharing fun finds with ya, and especially love when you share yours! If you’d like to join in the fun, please shout it out in the comments section.
Snacking on pitaya bowls.
I’ve had one before, but it was my first time making it at home. Pitaya is commonly called dragon fruit, and is a superfood, packed with antioxidants and nutrients. It’s often blended into smoothies and bowls like acai. It’s lower in sugar than acai and a beautiful fuchsia color.
I blended one Pitaya Plus pack with a cup of Almond Breeze, the meat from my leftover Seis de Mayo Thai coconut, and one date.
I poured it into a bowl and topped with Renola (the grain-free granola from Larabar), shredded coconut, banana and honey. I’ll spare you from blogging this every day from now on, because it will probably be my snack of choice…
I’m also glad I took those photos with my real camera, because it was its last photo shoot. After holding my dangling macro lens on to the base since the holidays, it’s time for a new one since my kit lens and macro lens are both broken now. I’m debating between the T5 and this one… and technology is intimating.
Desserts from Hungry Lu’s. They fill the cannoli as you order them, and the guy who works there always surprises Liv with some little cookies.
You know I was all over that coconut macaroon.
Using a Pinterest hack that actually worked! Sometimes my Pinterest ideas look like the classic Pinterest fails. Our lighter was out of fluid, and I knew I wanted to light a bunch of candles (candle hoarder problems), so I remembered reading that you can use a spaghetti noodle to light candles. I lit a match, used it to light the spaghetti noodle, and it totally worked.
These pants. Liv has a similar pair, and I’m always wishing they had some in my size haha. Looks like I finally found some! Totally going to rock the mom and daughter twinsies look until she’s too cool.
45 life lessons written by a 90-year-old woman.
THIS SONG. It is awesome for cardio! Add resistance during each break.
43 fat-blasting moves for those who hate to run.
Chocolate chip peanut butter bars. These just look so good.
Snuggling with Caro. Even though she has definitely made leaps and bounds since we adopted her -I never thought I’d see the day where she happily walks on a leash, but here we are- but she still surprises me when she’ll jump up for a snuggle. I was relaxing on the couch, and she leapt up to smash right against me, and immediately started grunting for me to pet her.
10 iced coffee hacks you shouldn’t live without.
12 healthy no-cook breakfasts.
The sweetest little crown braid.
Coconut hand cream. When I forgot all of my toiletries for our Tucson trip (this is what happens when I pack last minute), we had to make a little Target run. I just got some of the essentials like contact solution, floss, toothpaste, a jar of coconut oil, and picked up this hand cream. It smells lovely and is the perfect size for my gym bag.
Read, eat, wear, listen to, or find anything awesome this week?
Hope you have a very happy Friday! See ya later today with the latest Stitch Fix.
xoxo
Gina
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That bowl looks delicious!
As for cameras, I have a Canon similar to the one you linked to and love it. The only downsize is it’s size. I’ve thought about upgrading to a smaller one like the second one you listed. I really like the ones that have WiFi so you can automatically share Hi-def photos on FB/IG!
I just bought the Sony A5100 and I love it! Perfect for me because I have no idea what I’m doing yet, easy to use and I love having the wifi and being able to send pictures directly to my phone. The big sell for me was the size, it’s so small and lightweight. I knew if I got a larger one I wouldn’t end up bringing it out much because of the size.
that’s why my DSLR usually stays home. it’s like having an extra toddler haha
I love that color! Brightly colored foods always make me happy, so I may have to find this and bring some light into my life 🙂
The color of that pity bowl is vibrant as can be! I cannot even imagine eating it because I am in awe of the brightness.
Did you know you can sub pitaya for acai in any of the bowls at Tiki Port and Cafe by the Bay? I’ve been doing that a lot lately when I feel like a bowl but with a little less sweetness. They’re just as delicious, even with peanut butter! You can also ask them to add spinach and they blend it right up with the acai (haven’t tried the spinach/pitaya combo yet). Maybe you already do that but I thought I’d throw it out there just in case. 🙂
yes! i need to start doing that. it will be fun to change it up a bit 🙂
xoxo
I can’t get over how bright and pretty that pitaya bowl is! Love Livi’s braid…teach me how to braid like that?!
come on over! 🙂
I looooove coconut macaroons. So good with coffee for dessert. Not sure where you’ll be staying at, but last time I was in Vegas (this past winter) Monte Carlo hotel had “Savasana Saturdays”, yoga outside on their front patio on Las Vegas Blvd. It was free for hotel guests and a small fee for non-guests. It started at 8:00 or 9:00. They provided towels, water, mats, and security.
ahhhh that sounds amazing!
I have a Panasonic Lumix G5 (also a compact mirrorless) and I love it because it is really light weight but has interchangeable lenses. It also has a digital viewfinder in addition to the LCD screen and I actually wouldn’t buy a compact mirrorless without it. I did some traveling with it, and in bright sunlight it’s really difficult to use the LCD screen to take a picture — with the viewfinder, you can put your eye up to it and block out the surrounding light and still see what you’re about to take a photo of.
thank you for letting me know! i’ll look at those now!
I have the Canon T5 and love it! I bought the bundle pack that came with some extra lenses and filters and other fun stuff. I had an old school Canon 35mm Rebel G which I used before the digital age and loved it. So when it came time to buy a good DSLR, I went back to Canon and am so glad I did! Let me know if you have questions about the T5!
awesome- thank you! i think i’m going to go for it. i was thinking of a new smaller mirror less one (the DSLRs are so bulky!) but i like having more control over the images. looking at bundle packs now 🙂
I have a Sony mirror less and it is great! You can do manual mode too. I believe Costco has a bundle pack and a great deal right now.
Caro!! <3 <3 I'm so glad she's doing so well. Have so much fun in Vegas! I loved eating at Mon Ami when I was there!
so good! thank you!
I literally have dreams about the baked brie I had at Mon Ami two years ago. Amazinggggg. Happy Mother’s Day!
ahhhh that sounds delightful! thank you- have a great weekend!
Love the braid, I am obsessed with them now and trying different styles on my hair. The pitaya bowls look amazing, the color is so pink, that I would inhale in a second, obviously I am a pink fan 🙂 happy Mother’s Day and Happy Weekend.
thank you so much, katalina! hope you have a great weekend, too 🙂
Hi Gina- You have used goat’s greek yogurt numerous times in your recipes and I cannot seem to find it anywhere! Where do you purchase this? Unfortunately dairy is not my friend but I love greek yogurt. Thank you and Happy Mother’s Day!
whole foods! i can’t remember the brand, but it’s right by the goat and sheep yogurt
That bowl is so bright and amazing!! Trying one pronto! I remember watching the Rachel Zoe Project years ago on TV and thinking about how cool it was that her kids ran around her office while she was working. I bring my 18 month old to work with me and she goes around and runs all my business errands with me too. I call her my business partner and feel so lucky I can do that! We allow our employees to bring their dogs to work (we own a junkyard) as long as they don’t mind them getting dirty outside! 🙂
I have never heard of Pitaya before. I love learning new things and will need to keep an eye out for that one.
I saw that stuff at Sprouts and wondered how it tasted. I absolutely love the color. I’d eat it just for that!
I have a question that is off topic but thought I’d ask anyhow. I’ve been going to orange theory for a while now but have trouble finding a shoe that I like that works well for running on treadmill but also gives me the support I need for my ankles in the weight rooms. Do you have any recommendations? Thanks
i’m loving the new balance fresh foam zantes. they’re supportive enough for running (and i pronate) and super light
What a beautiful bowl! I am definitely going to have to try and find some pitaya around here!
Where’d you get the pitaya?? I had pitaya bowls when I was visiting friends near San Diego and fell in love!
they have it in the freezer section in smoothie packs at most health food stores, like whole foods and sprouts
Some day the MidWest will get acai and pitaya smoothie packs… some day… 🙁
Loving cycle class at my work’s gym! I finally have no meetings during one of the classes, LOVE getting a great sweat in during the day! I come back to my desk high on ALL the endorphins :)). A nice change from my usual weights or stairmaster session.
that is so awesome 🙂 love spinning and i think that’s so cool your work gym offers it
I am all about the pitaya. I buy the fresh ones from our local grocery and they are insanely good. I love the hot pink ones but they also sell orangey/yellow ones that are delicious too!
i’ve had those! so good 🙂
Did you break the camera body, or just the lens? If you just broke the lens why not just buy a new lens instead of a new body/kit lens? Maybe I misunderstood the problem though.
Both lenses are completely broken now, so after having to buy two new lenses I can pay $100 more and get an entirely new model camera since mine is 6 years old. So I think it’s worth it to bite the bullet and get a new one
That Pitaya bowl looks insane- so good! I should make those chocolate peanut butter bars soon:) I make those almond butter brownies that you posted a couple weeks ago and I make them about once a week. They’re so good! Have fun in Vegas!
I’ve never heard of pitaya, but I like the looks and sound of it! And the braid? Also loving that! A big happy Friday to you, Gina! Hope it’s a great weekend in Las Vegas. Brunch at The Wynn? That’s a must! Wear your stretchy pants, because it’s all-you-can-eat! 🙂
I have yet to find frozen dragon fruit near me but I can’t wait for the day I do! I love the stuff! This week I made some pretty awesome quinoa “fried” rice (Be Well with Arielle’s version) and picked up a pack of honey mints from Trader Joe’s. I love that they only have 3 ingredients and taste so delicious! Hope you have a great weekend and mother’s day!
I have never had dragon fruit before or (hangs head in shame) acai . A whole foods just opened near us and I may have to stop in this weekend.
I made coconut flour pumpkin muffins this week that were so good!
Hey Gina,
Thank you so much for including us in this lovely post… we hope you love our Pitaya as much as us:)
As for the camera, I’d say get the Sony. We shoot all Canon but it’s not very practical to bring around. Another fun solution if you have an iPhone is to purchase a “Olloclip” lens. That will really change your world:)
Have a great wekend!
I just upgraded to the T5 before our honeymoon, since I knew I would want to take lots of pics and my old Sony had seen better days. It is a bit bulky, so I took it when we were sightseeing (it fits in my purse with the smaller lens), but I also still rely on the iPhone a lot. I’m loving it though.
Here is the bundle I have: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/canon-eos-rebel-t5-dslr-camera-with-18-55mm-and-75-300mm-lenses-black/1004002.p?id=1219459331617&skuId=1004002
Have fun in Vegas!
Those canolis look amaze! That’s so cool that they fill it fresh for you. This week I’m loving soft cotton booty shorts–the weather in the Chi is finally getting warm enough for shorts weather. I found some cute pairs from American Apparel.
This video. http://www.buzzfeed.com/alivelez/heres-what-happened-when-girls-and-women-aged-5-50-were-aske#.coEvoZ9aGq–
omg–I was sobbing my eyes out! I showed it to my mom too–and we both were crying.
And PS: I love love love your ankle booties with the peep toe that you just posted in your stitch fix post–what brand are they? They’re so cute!
Love you!!!
Liv’s hair is so cute!