Good morning! I’m coming to you from Miami, Florida today!
I’m currently attending the annual Orangetheory Fitness Conference with my team, and it feels amazing to be back in the Sunshine State! Yesterday was jam-packed with meet-ups and activities, and things won’t be slowing down until Sunday. We have some downtime in the morning before we have to head back to the airport, so I’m really hoping to fit in a quick trip to the beach before we fly back to the cool Fall weather.
What’s on deck for you guys? Any exciting plans this weekend?
It’s that time of the week where we begin to wind down from work and transition into the weekend with a look back at some highlights from the week. As always, I invite you to share your Friday Favorites in the comments and link-up sections, too!
Happy Friday!
Friday Favorites #163: Week of 10/14
• a (brief) return to Florida
While I may not be in my hometown, I feel pretty close to it with amazing views like these. Miami, I like you.
I am spending the majority of my trip indoors, but even so, it’s nice to take a break from big city sounds and see things like palm trees and ocean water nearby. I really wish that I could have extended my trip a few days to be able to see my friends and family in Orlando, but I’ll just have to plan another one, right?
I’m looking forward to the rest of the weekend for sure!
• new fall scents
It’s no secret that my absolute favorite time of year is the fall. Moving to the Midwest gave me an appreciation for the cooler months between (the hot) summer and (the frigid) winter. While living in Michigan, I discovered the world of apple picking, pumpkin patching, and visiting cider mills on the regular, and the window of weekends to fit all of these activities in seems to go by faster every year!
To cherish it a little longer, I’m always early to pull out the fall scents and pumpkin recipes. I ordered a batch of autumn-inspired candles and wallflowers from Bath & Body Works towards the end of the summer, and I’m pumped to finally break out my fall loot! This week, I lit the Autumn scented candle in the kitchen, and I quickly discovered that smelling it while cooking and sipping on a glass of wine is my happy place.
I already placed another order for autumn and leaves candles, since I know these babies won’t last very long. You can usually find a great online discount if you subscribe to their emails or search for a promo code!
• Gavin DeGraw’s new album
Longtime blog readers already know that Gavin DeGraw is one of my favorite artists. In fact, he’s one of Scotts, too. (Remember that time we met him and shared our story of what his song More Than Anyone means to us? Yeah. He’s amazing.) Beyond being an incredibly sweet and down-to-earth person, his voice and music makes me swoon. Have you heard his latest album?
Scott and I can’t stop listening to it this week! My friend, Alex (who lives in Detroit and is coming to visit us next weekend!) is equally as obsessed, and we have had a group text thread going specifically discussing our thoughts and favorite songs on the album. (No shame.)
Gavin played last night with Andy Grammer (<- also love) at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City! Alex, Scott and I were super bummed to have had to miss it by a week. So close.
• hair conditioner
Some of you might remember a glimpse into the product that was featured in last month’s . It’s , and it’s fabulous.
In a solid effort to grow my hair out and repair it from over a decade of extreme coloring and damage from my dancing days, I have been using an in-shower deep conditioning treatment every time I wash my hair (and let’s be real, that’s about every few days). I’ve been really happy with Lee Staffordfor years, but when I ran out last month I replaced it with this conditioner. It’s amazing and leaves my hair feeling healthy and hydrated.
Hair treatments are so important for processed hair, y’all! Do you do anything specific to condition or treat your hair on the regular?
Get on it!
• First Aid/CPR/AED course
I got my Certified Personal Trainer recertification this week! It’s required to obtain a certain amount of CEUs, as well as a CPR/AED refresher course every two years to keep the credentials, and thanks to my summers attending the IDEA World Fitness Convention, I was able to renew without much trouble at all.
Being new to the area, I searched online for where to get my CPR recertification and found good reviews for Frontline Health. Wanting to a good bang for my buck, I went all in and signed up for the Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED course that took less than five hours to complete. I learned a decent amount in my first CPR course, but this one was much more informative with real-life scenarios and hands-on situations. We had access to test dummies, infant dummies, AED machines, (unloaded) epi pens, dressings, and more. I left feeling like I could actually save lives and help with life-threatening situations at a moments notice!
There were several online options for the CPR recertification, but, in my opinion, repeatedly practicing the procedures in-person is the only way to really feel prepared to handle them in the future. If you’re in the NYC area and want or need to get certified in CPR, I can’t recommend Frontline Health enough. My instructor, Jeff, was a 20+ year EMS professional who was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about saving lives. There were several parents in my class, and you better believe that I will enroll Scott into the course as soon as our family expands!
• favorite LIL posts
» How I Deal With Litter Boxes In An Apartment (& $100 Visa Gift Card Giveaway!)
» September Stitch Fix Breakdown (2016)
And a throwback for good measure …
» Total Body Living Room Resistance Band Workout
Your Turn

Have a wonderful weekend!
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. Friday Favorites is a series of posts that features items I genuinely want to share with you, and affiliate links may appear from time to time. As always, any support is much appreciated! <3

I don’t use a hair treatment, but definitely should since I dye my hair. I love the feeling after just getting your hair done because of the products the salon uses. And OMG I share the love for Fall scents. I could burn those candles all year long!
Patricia @ Sweet and Strong recently posted…Fall Green Pear Smoothie Recipe
Yes — it makes a huge difference! I wish i had all of the salon products they use, my hair always looks and feels so great after a cut/style in a salon!
I’ve been using that hair treatment too and I love it! And my hair definitely needs it after (I’m afraid to say) years of coloring it!
I need to get my CPR renewed too, both for my PT certification and work. Better get on that it expired at the end of September!
Debbie @ Coach Debbie Runs recently posted…Friday Favorites: Fascial Stretch in Tempe, New Friends and Vegan on the Road
Awesome!! And yes, I feel you on the years of coloring. My poor hair is still recovering from over a decade of crazy colors!
I love the sweater weather candle! Those are my favorites. Also, I love Gavin Degraw! I had no idea there was a new album out, but I’m definitely going to check it out!
Kelly @ Kelly Runs For Food recently posted…Friday Favorites 10.14.16
It’s SO GOOD! You can stream it on Spotify!
Glad you were able to head to Miami after all the crazy weather! Happy Friday <3
Me too – it’s hot but beautiful here!
Haha Sweater Weather was in my last week’s Five Things Friday post. It’s so magical!!
Erin @ Erin’s Inside Job recently posted…Five Things Friday #107
Such a good scent! Thanks for always linking up, Erin — Happy Friday!
Have so much fun in Miami! Also congrats on your certification!
Nina
aworldofdresses.com
Thanks Nina! Have a great weekend!
I love Fall candles from Bath and Body Works. Autumn is absolutely my favorite!! Have a great weekend!
Woo hoo – I know, they are all so great. I guess that’s why I made two orders this year. Whoops! 😉
I have an advice for even deeper conditioning using the treatment/mask you have at home : at night you take a shower, wash your hair with shampoo, towel dry your hair then apply the mask, comb and make a bun with your hair…. and go to bed with it. Your hair will dry up eventually. The next morning, simply wash the mask off in the shower, simply with water. Style as usual. It’s my hairdresser trick! It really works, I do it once a week.
That’s SUCH a great tip, thank you so much for sharing! Happy Weekend!
Seriously can not get enough of Gavin’s new album!!! I can’t pick a favorite on the album, I love them all!
Right?! I think Kite Like Girl might be a top fave! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSQGlBN9kvI
Have so much fun in Florida! 🙂
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West recently posted…Favorite things: Bootybarre, BODYPUMP, Lemonade restaurant, TV and more
Thanks friend, enjoy the weekend! xo
Gavin Degraw has been a favorite of mine for years. I may or may not have named my first son Gavin, my husband loves to tell people he is named after Gavin degraw, I’m like hey, it’s a good name!! He became a favorite way back in the beginning days of One Tree Hill!
That’s amazing! I love the name Gavin and have been a fan of his since One Tree Hill, too. So cute!
Fall candles are my absolute favorite; the scents are just so warm and homey! 🙂 I hope you’re having an amazing time in Florida!
Emily Swanson (@Emily11949309) recently posted…Why I Used To Be a Slave to Running