Friday Faves
1. The meal of my childhood.
On Sundays after church, everyone would go over to my nana’s house for homemade tortillas, chorizo, tamales, beans and eggs. It’s something my mom would often make on the weekends, too.. I knew it would be a good day when I woke up to the smell of chorizo. Now, whenever I have a tamale with an egg on top, it makes my heart smile. It was a perfect comfort food while we were living in Valdosta, and nana and mom would FedEx tamales to me. Now, it’s a frequent weeknight dinner staple over here- the Pilot loves it almost as much as I do.
2. The return of coral and new TOMs!
Coral is one of my favorite spring/summer colors and I couldn’t resist grabbing up some of the new TOMs ballet flats. They ended up being even cuter in person than they looked online, just as comfy as the originals with a pretty floral interior. (Word to the wise: they run big! I usually wear a 7.5-8 and ordered a 7- they fit perfectly)
3. Planning weekend adventures! The in-laws and our nephew will be here later this morning for the long weekend, and we’re so excited for them to meet Livi and do some fun Tucson things. Last time they were all here was for the wedding, and it will be amazing to enjoy a weekend with them that isn’t jammed-packed with wedding to-dos.
The Pilot and I are hoping to take everyone to the Desert Museum. I haven’t been since I was little, and he’s never seen a javelina up close 😉
4. The smell of fig.
I like to burn candles at night, and these Henri Bendel candles are my absolute favorite. The original price is kind of cray (especially when you can find awesome candles at World Market for way less), but Bath and Body Works marked them down to 75% off sometime last year and I went a little buck wild. I thought my candle stash was gone, and found a new one, still in the plastic wrap under the sink. I may have ran around holding the candle in a victory dance. I’m cool like that.
5. The “Munchkin Room” at the base gym. How awesome is this set-up?
Play area with a TV and toys, cardio equipment, weights, a bathroom with a changing table and a nursing room. It was nice to be able to bring Livi with me and watch her while I did a short cardio workout, and she napped the entire time. I got to test out this new elliptical workout, and let’s just say my biscuits were burning 😉
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This workout utilizes the forward and backward movement of the elliptical, but feel free to alter it to suit your favorite cardio equipment. As always, check with a doc before making any fitness changes and honor your body and limitations.
Resistance is based on levels of perceived exertion- so level 5 is where you could pedal all the livelong day, level 10 is when the pedals almost stop because the resistance is so high. Guidelines for speed are indicated below, too.
Happy burning!
| Time | Direction | Level of resistance |
| 0:00-5:00 | Forwards | 5; easy resistance, quick feet |
| 5:00-10:00 | Forwards | 5-8; Use the time to gradually increase the resistance until you’re at a level 8. Maintain your quick pace |
| 10:00-12:00 | Backwards | Keep the resistance, and pedal backwards as fast as you can |
| 12:00-13:00 | Forwards | Level 6; Bring resistance down and sprint for the entire minute |
| 13:00-15:00 | Forwards | Level 7; Slow down your pace (still quick but not a sprint) |
| 15:00-20:00 | Backwards | 7-9; Use the time to gradually increase the resistance until you’re at a level 9. Maintain your quick pace. |
| 20:00-22:00 | Forwards | Keep the high resistance and pedal forward as fast as you can |
| 22:00-23:00 | Backwards | Level 6; Bring the resistance down and sprint backwards for the entire minute |
| 23:00-25:00 | Forwards | Level 5; Bring the resistance down again, slow your pace and breath for two minutes |
| Cool down and stretch |
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If you try it, please tweet me or leave a comment and let me know how it went 🙂
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I haven’t even heard of a javelina before!! And OMG your TOMS are so so so cute. I need to figure out where to get some up here. I think I’ve got time though… we’re getting 15cm of snow today so it’s not quite flats-season yet. Have a great day Gina!
Love your posts you crack me up! Thanks for my morning inspiration! Have a great day!
Ah! Printed the workout and will be trying it next week!! Can’t wait!!
Love how they have that gym set up! It’s perfect 🙂
LOVE coral! It’s such a bright happy color
Oh my gosh, that Mexican food looks so good. It looks like huevos rancheros, which I love! and miss… =( Ah, it’s only 10:15 in the morning and now I’m hungry!
That munchkin room is amazing, what a brilliant idea! I know the gym I go to has really quality childcare, but that’s an awesome room for moms who really want to be able to monitor!
Happy Friday!
my biscuits are burning hahaaa!
i love the idea of that gym room too. its so nice to be able to have her in the same room with you !
love your new Toms…so pretty!
I have a serious toms addiction (sparkly ones being the new fave)
What a great way to workout!
Have a lovely weekend with the fam!
Gina – love all of your workouts! Have you ever thought of putting them in a table and importing them like an image so they can be pinned on pinterest?
Coral is so pretty and I love wearing all year round 🙂
I just scooped up two pairs of TOMS online, I was going to do flats but because I heard the sizing issue on reviews, I have to go and try them on! I don’t want the hassle of sending them back 😉
Happy Weekend love!
That munchkin room is awesome!!!! I have a 2 year old, 1 year old and am currently pregnant and I would love to have a gym with a room like that to work out in. As you can imagine, I don’t get out of the house much. Lol!
That’s such a smart idea to have a room where the parents can watch their kids!
I want a new pair of Toms so bad! I wish they weren’t so expensive. 🙁
That is such a great workout area for moms! I think every gym should have that, such a great idea!!
That room at your gym is such a great idea! And it’s so wonderful that you can bring the baby and she can “socialize” with other children as well.
I married a Mexican and oh my goodness do I love when the tamales come out on Christmas at my MIL’s house.
My mom bought those exact pair of TOMS for me too! I normally were a 10 and she got me the 9.5 but I can’t tell if they are too big or not. My heel slips a little when I walk sometimes so she’s ordering a 9 to compare!
Have a great weekend with your family!!
I just posted yesterday that I ordered 2 pairs of Tom’s (Ive never had any and really wanted to love them) but they were both too big and they don’t make my size in a half size smaller, it’s whole sizes only, so I paid for shipping both ways but don’t have any adorable Tom’s. Sniff. Yours are soooo cute!!! Enjoy 🙂
Love those Toms, nice find!
“My bisquits are burning” = so funny and looks like a killer one.
Have a great day. 🙂
Everyone is talking about Toms! Yours are so cute! I need to check them out and I love their cause!
excited about the elliptical workout! planning on trying it out at the gym tonight!
OMG that munchkin room is soooo awesome! I am jealous! So wish my gym had that. There is only a separate playroom for kids to go to, which is better than nothing – but how great you get to be in the same room??!! Enjoy the workouts so nice you have been able to get back into it.
I wanted that coral shirt from Express but they didn’t have my size! I settled on different coral one though. 🙂 That “Munchkin Room” is awesome! What a fantastic idea!
you need to start doing fashion posts again 🙂 I love your style.
I’m so happy you posted your “review” of Toms — My order for the beige ballet flats with the black tips are on backorder, and it is good to know that I needed to size down (which I did, just in case). Thank you! I can’t wait to see how great they look on you. I am *so* looking forward to them — they will be my first Toms purchase.
Those tamales look amazing. Have a wonderful weekend!
That munchkin room is a really good idea!
That’s a perfect workout room; good to get out of the house. Be sure to check your email; I sent you something. (Need to make sure you got it!)
LOVE the Toms! Are those the linen ones or burlap? Too cute!!
linen
Awesome Toms! What color are those?
natural
Gina,
What incline would you recommend for the workout?
Looks great!
you can pick whatever crossramp is comfortable with you and keep it there, or adjust it to go with your own suggested level
#1 looks awesome!
i LOVE that coral top. i’ve been looking for one everywhere but they all seem to be on backorder. where did you find it?
Happy Friday! I like the coral this season very much!
Love those Toms! Ordered a pair of my own today. If you enter “SHARETOMS” at checkout, you can get $5 off. I hope they fit! Planning to try the elliptical workout this afternoon…
Just curious- is the insole of the Tom flats the same as the “regular” Toms- kind of a leathery type material? And are they as comfortable? They are so cute, I might have to get a pair for myself 🙂
That javelina gives me the heebie jeebies 🙂
yep, the insole is the same- just as comfy! i’ve been wearing them all morning 🙂
Love the munchkin room – what a perfect set-up. Thanks for the elliptical workout; I cannot wait to try it out! I usually just do the “random” program on the machine, so it’ll be fun to switch it up.
ooh! i’ve been wondering about the toms ballet flats! i need them!!!
I always want new elliptical workouts so thank you first and foremost for that! Also I love those Tom’s ballet flats, they look adorable – and I will eat Mexican food anytime anywhere any place and I seriously want your dinner now!
i love your TOMS Gina 🙂 I am a TOMS lover and those are just so cute!
I’m loving coral for spring too! I just bought a pair of coral jeans and I can’t wait to break them out!
hmm…I never understood going backwards on elipticals.
I’ve been eyeing up those flats for awhile now- love the comfort of TOMS, but it doesn’t take much before they stink to high heaven!!! Do you have any special tips for reducing the stank factor? (Maybe it’s just me? I’m a sweater!)
Mine haven’t been too bad but I saw on a random tv show last week that if u put stinky shoes in a ziploc bag in the freezer, it goes away
I’ll try it! Thanks for the tip!
I love those TOMS! I saw them in a boutique the other day with the black cap toe. They are darling. I was so bummed that they didn’t have my size in stock 🙁
I love coral- such a beautiful color! And.. what an awesome gym setup!
Oh. my. gosh. I ADORE both that top and those shoes!!!
Love Toms! I never knew the story behind them until I saw the founder on Ellen 🙂 Those are adorable too! A little off topic but I found a really cute video online (its actually a commercial they are working on for Johnson and Johnson) I am not a huge fan of their products but their commercials melt my heart 🙂 http://youtu.be/yotq4zr0dRc
Love Bendel’s candles – they are the best!
Loving the Toms! Super Cute 🙂
I LOVE THE TOMS! I know what I am getting tomorrow!! I didn’t even know they had those.
Tried the workout tonight. It’s great, just what I needed ! Thank you for the great workouts and of course the wonderful blog.
whoo hoo! thank you so much for reading and letting me know!
happy saturday <3
Love tamales and Toms!