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. Michelle on May 6, 2016 at 10:46 am

    I also follow you on Instagram.

  2. Yvette on May 6, 2016 at 10:46 am

    Coffee

  3. Megan on May 6, 2016 at 10:46 am

    I’m loving that we had a break in the spring rain that gave me time to start planting my garden. Then I loved the rain that watered it!
    Happy Mother’s Day!

  4. Nikki on May 6, 2016 at 10:48 am

    I’ve been in the market for a new nalgene – my husband stole mine!

  5. Robin on May 6, 2016 at 10:49 am

    Beautiful weather has arrived here in MN and I couldn’t be happier!

  6. Jillian on May 6, 2016 at 10:59 am

    I’m loving more time with friends now that finals week is over!

  7. Angelica B. on May 6, 2016 at 11:00 am

    I love Nalgene! I have had mine for over 5 years!

  8. Megan on May 6, 2016 at 11:04 am

    I am loving the weather this week. It’s 85 today!

  9. Sarah on May 6, 2016 at 11:07 am

    I am loving that my husband is finally done with grad school!! I’ll get to see him again! ๐Ÿ˜‰

  10. Alicia on May 6, 2016 at 11:07 am

    That cake looks amazing!

  11. Maggie on May 6, 2016 at 11:09 am

    I am loving the warmer weather we are having this week!

  12. Lindsay on May 6, 2016 at 11:10 am

    It’s been cold and rainy here all week but I am loving our local library. It’s great to have a wonderful place to take my kids to when it’s rainy and we can’t play outside. Also, I’m loving coffee.

  13. Amy on May 6, 2016 at 11:12 am

    Love nalgene!

  14. Alexa on May 6, 2016 at 11:16 am

    i love that my fiancรฉ can visit me from out of town this weekend!

  15. Kelsey on May 6, 2016 at 11:17 am

    Sunshine! Finally.

  16. Maryz on May 6, 2016 at 11:18 am

    I’m loving the spring weather we have finally gotten this week!

  17. Karen on May 6, 2016 at 11:20 am

    Loving a little mini getaway this weekend after a couple of stressful weeks!

  18. Kate on May 6, 2016 at 11:22 am

    I just got my nails done with the color “another round” and love it!!

  19. Justine on May 6, 2016 at 11:28 am

    Love Nalgene bottles! I also follow you on Instagram!

  20. Lauren S. on May 6, 2016 at 11:30 am

    We could definitely use a new water bottle to keep from using so many disposable ones!

  21. hillary on May 6, 2016 at 11:38 am

    Nalgenes are the best. i’m due for an upgrade – i’ve used the same one for almost 15 years.

  22. Jennifer P on May 6, 2016 at 11:41 am

    Could definitely use a new water bottle!

  23. Alicia on May 6, 2016 at 11:51 am

    That water bottle looks amazing! I’ve noticed having a larger sized one has been better for my waterintake lol

  24. Debbie P on May 6, 2016 at 11:52 am

    I love that they have a larger size nalgene!

  25. Laura on May 6, 2016 at 11:57 am

    I’m loving that I get to be home with my sweet 1.5 year old daughter. Just love her.

  26. Laura on May 6, 2016 at 11:58 am

    I follow on Instagram!

  27. Theresa on May 6, 2016 at 12:00 pm

    I am loving the beautiful summer weather we are having in MN today. And I am loving getting ready for my baby girls 2nd birthday party. Although, I can’t believe my baby will be 2 on Monday. Time flies!

  28. joelle on May 6, 2016 at 12:00 pm

    I want some cactus cake!

    Ps. we are driving down to SD for the weekend, and I’m dying to check out the new food hall in Liberty Station! What’s your fav spot there?

  29. Mollie K on May 6, 2016 at 12:16 pm

    I am loving that we are celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week at the school I work at-I am a school psychologist at an elementary school and we celebrated by talking about a different feeling each day (Excitement, Worry, Frustration, Pride) and did a variety of activities! It was so great.

  30. Mollie K on May 6, 2016 at 12:17 pm

    I follow you on instagram!

  31. Lauren on May 6, 2016 at 12:18 pm

    I’m loving finishing my 3rd year of medical school – ONE MORE TO GO!!!

  32. Molly on May 6, 2016 at 12:18 pm

    We’re still loving your pb and j dip with Bitsy’s crackers! Obsess much?!

  33. LauraT on May 6, 2016 at 12:21 pm

    Best wishes on a speedy recovery

  34. Isela G. on May 6, 2016 at 12:25 pm

    I’m loving fun spring polish on my toes.

  35. Angie on May 6, 2016 at 12:28 pm

    I’m loving massaged Kale salad. Thanks for the step by step a few weeks ago!

  36. Ashley R on May 6, 2016 at 12:34 pm

    LOVE the huge pink bottle! I’ve started to do infusion teas every morning and it’s hard to find bottle big enough to hold a quart of liquid that aren’t too wide. This looks like a perfect solution!

  37. Courtney on May 6, 2016 at 12:41 pm

    I am loving that it is FRIDAY! YESSSS. I can’t wait to relax on the couch at home after a long work week.

  38. Lindsay on May 6, 2016 at 12:44 pm

    Love that last pic of the pilot and P!

  39. Sarah L on May 6, 2016 at 12:45 pm

    I am living some beautiful flowers that started blooming outside of my house. I had no idea that they were there!

  40. Jessica S on May 6, 2016 at 1:03 pm

    That cake looks delicious! What a great way to celebrate no more pain! Congrats! Oh and the water bottle would fit my life style perfectly! I follow you on IG.

  41. Amanda S. on May 6, 2016 at 1:03 pm

    I’m loving that we have survived a week of rain and that it’s supposed to be sunny again in a couple days!

  42. Jen W. on May 6, 2016 at 1:05 pm

    My toes in the sand with a cool drink in my hand….. true LOVE!

  43. Catherine on May 6, 2016 at 1:07 pm

    Happy Mother’s Day!

  44. Brittany on May 6, 2016 at 1:12 pm

    Not like I need another water bottle but I love Nalgene!

  45. Jayne C. on May 6, 2016 at 1:23 pm

    That picture of P and the Pilot is too precious!

  46. Katy on May 6, 2016 at 1:32 pm

    I’m loving that our weather is warming up and my work day is almost over! ๐Ÿ™‚

  47. Maribeth on May 6, 2016 at 1:36 pm

    could always use a new water bottle!

  48. Erin M. on May 6, 2016 at 1:37 pm

    I love that it’s sunny out today!

  49. Tiffany Azzara on May 6, 2016 at 1:38 pm

    P’s smiles are the best. ๐Ÿ™‚

  50. Hanna Gardella on May 6, 2016 at 1:51 pm

    I’m loving how green everything finally is!

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