Friday Faves + Nalgene giveaway

Hi friends! Happy Fri-yay! What are you up to this weekend? Any fun plans?? We have a friendโ€™s birthday party, and Iโ€™m hoping to cash in on my Motherโ€™s Day nap. ๐Ÿ˜‰ I hope you have a relaxing and fun weekend ahead!

Itโ€™s time for the weekly Friday Faves party! I always enjoy sharing some of the latest faves, and hearing about yours in the comments section if youโ€™d like to join along.

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(similar shirt here! love it for summer)

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#1: Having my hand surgery over with! It was Monday, and while the day itself was a little stressful, it was so worth it. They were waiting for my graft nerves to arrive -I pictured someone running down the hall with a cooler, Greyโ€™s Anatomy-style- so it was delayed 4 hours (with a dead phone and IV in my arm…) and our sitter had to leave our house to take a final. So, the Pilot went home to take over for P and pick up Liv from school. I was chilling, trying to ignore the IV, and Jess walked into the room! It was the best. She stayed there during the surgery, and then stayed downstairs with Liv and P (no kids under 14 allowed in the hospital) while the Pilot went up to get me. Jess, you are an angel. <3

The splint on my hand has taken some getting used to (my first diaper change was hilarious ) but itโ€™s NBD now. I get it off on Tuesday! Iโ€™m so so thrilled to have had an incredible surgeon. While my hand is sore, the constant throbbing pain is already gone. Also, I HAVE FEELING in my thumb. Itโ€™s been numb for over a year, and this fact alone makes me cry because Iโ€™m so happy. I thought Iโ€™d just have to get used to constantly dropping things and a dull pain where I cut it, but no. I am so thankful. 

To celebrate the end of my surgeries, the Pilot picked up this cactus cake from Whole Foods.

Cactus cake

Itโ€™s chocolate cake with chocolate ganache, and the whole barrel cake is already almost gone.  

Cactus cake 3

Livi and I were equally thrilled. The chocolate-loving apple doesnโ€™t fall far from the tree, thatโ€™s for sure.

Cactus cake 2

Salad a Day in May is going strong! Thank you for tagging me in all of your beautiful salad beast pics! Letโ€™s keep it going. ๐Ÿ™‚

Here are my salads from the week:

Saladaday

Sunday (unpictured): Hawaiian chopped salad while riding to the airport

Monday: Whole Foods hot bar. The Pilot made it with greens, garbanzo beans, balsamic dressing, edamame, beets, fennel, and chicken

Tuesday: Tender Greens kale salad with roasted veggies and grilled garlic bread

Wednesday: kale salad with hearts of palm, feta, pomegranate arils, lemon vinaigrette and chicken. I processed the chicken in the food processor since itโ€™s tricky to cut things with the splint

Thursday: leftover kale salad

Iโ€™ll keep taking pics so I have more to share in next weekโ€™s Friday Faves post! This chopped shrimp salad is on the menu and Iโ€™ll share the recipe for my uncleโ€™s chopped avocado salad, too. 

These Steve Madden sandals (in the pic above). They match everything and are super comfy!

 Being healthy means not always being healthy. It wasnโ€™t until I had Liv that I really learned the art of moderation. Life is so much happier when things arenโ€™t off limits. *Raises cactus cake-covered fork triumphantly*

Well this makes me want to improve my chicken scratch. 

Inspiration for meal prep.

Challenge for that peach.

These bedtime stories.

Advice for first-time entrepreneurs.

Emma Watsonโ€™s Met Gala dress!

A giveaway from my friends at Nalgene!

Nalgene giveaway

Iโ€™m a huge fan of Nalgene bottles because theyโ€™re BPA-free and super durable. I have a blue one that I stole from the Pilot, have dropped it at least 100 times, and you would never know. I also love that they hold a LOT of water, which makes it easier to get in the recommended daily amount. They sent me one of their newest Silo bottles, which is the only 48 oz bottle on the market. It doesnโ€™t leak and is dishwasher safe on the top rack.

5 lucky readers will win their own Silo bottle in Cosmo!

Nalgene giveaway 2

Enter here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The lucky winners will be chosen Sunday night at midnight EST and announced Monday morning.

Nalgene giveaway 3

Happy Friday, friends! Iโ€™ll see you soon with a dessert recipe. ๐Ÿ™‚

I leave you with the P smile of the day, dancing with daddy at our cousinโ€™s wedding last weekend.

Dancing 2

xoxo

Gina

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315 Comments

  1. Courtney on May 6, 2016 at 6:04 am

    love the Nalgene!

  2. Amanda on May 6, 2016 at 6:08 am

    Celebrating Mother’s Day with my mom this weekend.

  3. Jenessa on May 6, 2016 at 6:09 am

    I have tried a few different kind of waterbottles and always go back to the Nalgene. It has lasted me for 7 years now.

  4. Alana on May 6, 2016 at 6:12 am

    So glad your hand surgery went well! I’m super looking forward to taking road trip to see some friends this weekend!

  5. Trish on May 6, 2016 at 6:15 am

    I always love BPA free and I love the bigger bottles! It makes it so much easier to get water in throughout the day ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. Krista on May 6, 2016 at 6:18 am

    I love nalgene!! I’ve had mine forever and it never leaks or breaks! Love the big size for getting hydrated!

  7. Caroline M. on May 6, 2016 at 6:20 am

    I’m loving my coffee this week…Have to keep extra energized for finals! I could definitely use a new water bottle. My current one holds a lot of water but I think it’s starting to leak!

  8. Maria on May 6, 2016 at 6:20 am

    Any way I can get more water in! I love that the nalgene is 48oz!

  9. Maria on May 6, 2016 at 6:21 am

    i follow you on insta and twitter!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. Georgina on May 6, 2016 at 6:21 am

    I’m loving the perfect temperatures and low humidity we’re having this week…a rarity in New Orleans!!

  11. Stacey on May 6, 2016 at 6:23 am

    Have a Happy Mother’s Day. Glad your surgery is behind you. I would love a new Nalgene!!

  12. Emily on May 6, 2016 at 6:23 am

    I love this giveaway! Need a new water bottle for work

  13. Lauren on May 6, 2016 at 6:24 am

    Thanks for the salad inspiration! It’s going to help me make sure I eat more greens going into summer.

  14. Dyanna on May 6, 2016 at 6:25 am

    Mother’s Day Brunch this weekend with the whole family ๐Ÿ™‚

  15. Caryn on May 6, 2016 at 6:25 am

    Glad surgery went well! ๐Ÿ™‚ P’s cute little face reminds me of your brothers (based on the pics I’ve seen on the blog). I feel like it’s something in her smile or eyes…such sweet family resemblance! ๐Ÿ™‚

  16. Morgan on May 6, 2016 at 6:26 am

    So glad your surgery went well! I’m loving extra coffee to keep me going during finals and rainy days.

  17. Michelle on May 6, 2016 at 6:27 am

    Oh man 48 oz is amazing. That’s like calling my name to bring to hot yoga. ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Glad your hand is on the mend. Honestly a numb thumb sounds like it would mentally be as frustrating as physcially.

  18. Chelsea on May 6, 2016 at 6:30 am

    I’m loving Trader Joe’s honey sliced almonds on top of my oatmeal as a substitute for nut butter (can’t believe I let myself run out)!

  19. Chelsea on May 6, 2016 at 6:31 am

    And I follow you on Instagram!

  20. Naomi J. on May 6, 2016 at 6:35 am

    So glad that your surgery went well and you finally have feeling back in your hand! Have a happy mothers day!

  21. Kelly on May 6, 2016 at 6:38 am

    Love this. I definitely don’t drink enough water.

  22. Rebecca on May 6, 2016 at 6:38 am

    I love Nalgene bottles, we have several of them! They really do hold up well.

  23. Stephanie B. on May 6, 2016 at 6:40 am

    P’s smiles of the day are just too precious!! She is so incredibly joyful – I love seeing those pictures! That goes along with one thing I’m loving this week – yesterday one of my former co-workers brought her 1 year old daughter into the office, and she is so adorable. Getting to play with her for a little bit was a perfect break from work!

  24. abs on May 6, 2016 at 6:41 am

    i love cinco de mayo! always makes me challenge myself to make something new that i’ve never had before! last night it was pulled pork enchiladas and esquites (bonus, they were amazingly easy).

  25. Morgan on May 6, 2016 at 6:42 am

    I am loving that my husband has had some free time to handle dinners this week! My family was going to start a riot if there was one more crockpot dinner..

    Happy Mother’s Day!

  26. Brooke on May 6, 2016 at 6:43 am

    Its finally warming up and is sunny here in South Dakota which has been a change from the chilly rain we had been experiencing for the past 2 weeks!

  27. Ellen on May 6, 2016 at 6:43 am

    I am loving that spring weather has finally arrived to Michigan! Michigan summers are incredible so I’m very excited that we’re approaching the best time of year!

  28. Linda on May 6, 2016 at 6:44 am

    This would be perfect. My husband just melted his on cover on the bottom rack of the dish washer.

  29. Allison M on May 6, 2016 at 6:49 am

    Something I’m loving this Friday…a weekend with plenty of sleep!

  30. Allison M on May 6, 2016 at 6:50 am

    Following you on instagram ๐Ÿ™‚

  31. Kate on May 6, 2016 at 6:54 am

    I’m still mourning the day I lost my college nalgene bottle! They’re the best. Happy Mother’s Day!

  32. Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious on May 6, 2016 at 6:54 am

    I’m so glad your surgery went well and everything seems to be back to normal!

  33. Diana on May 6, 2016 at 6:54 am

    I’d love that huge Nalgene! I don’t really have (drinking) water at work so I bring my Nalgene bottle to work every day!

  34. caryn on May 6, 2016 at 6:54 am

    Follow on IG ๐Ÿ™‚

  35. Chris on May 6, 2016 at 6:56 am

    Spending Mother’s Day with my kiddos this weekend

  36. Meg on May 6, 2016 at 6:57 am

    I love how big it is! Better than carrying around a refilled trenta cup from Starbucks…

  37. Erin Motz on May 6, 2016 at 7:02 am

    STOP IT WITH THE PILOT DANCING WITH P!!! OMG, how do you deal with the sweetness?!

  38. Abby on May 6, 2016 at 7:04 am

    I’m loving that the mornings are COOL and the afternoons are warm and sunny here in TX!

  39. Kylee on May 6, 2016 at 7:04 am

    I am loving that my family is coming in to town this weekend!!

  40. Melissa C on May 6, 2016 at 7:05 am

    So glad to know your on the up & up with the surgery! Glad it’s over and all went well. Thank you Jesus!
    Having stuff on your mind for awhile can be so draining! Ps smile is incredible! We have a baseball game for my middle son tonight and tomorrow- I love watching my boys doing what they love! Happy Mothers Day, May your nap be “dreamy”

  41. Jill on May 6, 2016 at 7:05 am

    I think I am addicted to water bottles!

  42. Annie on May 6, 2016 at 7:08 am

    I lost my Nalgene! I’d love to have a new one!

  43. AmyC on May 6, 2016 at 7:11 am

    I love nalgenes too. My family gets annoyed because I have them everywhere!!

  44. Laura on May 6, 2016 at 7:14 am

    I’m loving the warm weather we’re having in seattle this week!

  45. Christine T on May 6, 2016 at 7:15 am

    Happy Mother’s Day! We are heading home to spend time with our mommas this weekend.

    What am I loving this week? SPRING IS REALLY HERE!

  46. Marina P. on May 6, 2016 at 7:15 am

    Happy Mother’s Day! So glad you surgeries are finally behind you ๐Ÿ™‚

    And…I’m loving Spring weather — it’s finally here!!!!

  47. Laura O'Dell on May 6, 2016 at 7:16 am

    I am loving that the weather is finally warming up and that we get to celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend!

  48. erin @Serindipity1214 on May 6, 2016 at 7:19 am

    I LOVE my Nalgene 48 ouncer! It’s great because I don’t have to constantly run to fill up a usual 24 ouncer. Also, I just got my first fitness teaching job and my new boss asked me what I wanted to call it…is it bad that I wanted to say Quiver Pulse? I didn’t think he’d get the joke, but that was my first thought lol

  49. Elizabeth on May 6, 2016 at 7:20 am

    I still really like my Klean Kanteen water bottle. I have sport top for it that is great when I’m working out. But I think a clear Naglene water bottle would be visually stimulating for me to drink more water!

  50. Allison on May 6, 2016 at 7:20 am

    I’m loving a long weekend with Thursday and Friday off of work!

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