Hello from sunny Florida!
Scott, Skyler, and I flew into my hometown of Orlando on Wednesday afternoon, and it’s been a whirlwind of catching up with family and friends ever since. It’s been so nice to return to our old stomping grounds, and I can already tell that this trip is going to go by way too fast.
Today we are heading up to Daytona to meet a friend (and her babies!) for lunch, visit my grandmother, then hopefully get to swing by the beach to at least put our toes in the sand before heading home. Ahhh, the beach. It’s been some time since I’ve enjoyed one!
I’m really looking forward to spending more time with loved ones in Florida this weekend, and I’m even more excited for our friends to meet Skyler. He’s doing great on this trip so far, so here’s hoping that continues for the rest of our time here.
Now onto the heart of this post … what I’ve been loving lately! Thanks for tuning into this week’s edition of Friday Favorites, and don’t forget to link your posts up at the bottom, too.
Happy Friday!
Friday Favorites #204: Week of 6/22
• Skyler’s first swim
There are a lot of firsts happening in Skyler’s world during this trip! One big thing we celebrated was his first dip in a pool at my parents’ house yesterday.
(I found this infant rash guard swimsuit and sun protection swim hat at great prices on Amazon! They’re both sized 0-6 months, so they’ll definitely last all summer long.)
He really wasn’t sure about it at first. In fact, he hated it. He cried for about two minutes, and then calmed down all of the sudden. I’m sure he was confused by the sensation of being wet, especially while wearing a swim diaper. Once he got over it, he actually began to like it … for a few minutes anyways.
He started kicking is legs and it got us thinking that we’d like to get him into swim classes as soon as we can. He must have that Florida boy blood!
Scott was so patient with him, too. I loved watching them together. And man, it sure is nice to get out of the City and into a backyard for a few days!
• Trader Joe’s pre-made salads
Have you ever browsed the pre-made salad section at Trader Joe’s? If not, I highly recommend that you do because they’re fantastic.
Ever since Skyler entered our lives, I’ve been looking for healthy meals that I can turn to when I need lunch and don’t have much time to prepare it. I found a great variety of pre-made salads at Trader Joe’s a few weeks back, and I’ve slowly been trying them all. So far my favorites have been the Super Spinach Salad (top) and Mexican Style Corn & Quinoa Salad (right). There’s a picture of both plated below.
I currently try to stock up on a few at the beginning of each week to be able to mix and plate up as soon as Sky goes down for his lunchtime nap, and I don’t see myself stopping any time soon.
They’re only $4.99 a piece, so it’s a steal compared to NYC market/deli prices!
And speaking of quick and healthy Summer staples …
• The Premama Smoothie (for breastfeeding & mommas-to-be)
Today I’m teaming up with Smoothie King to tell you all about their new smoothie just for mommas or mommas-to-be!
Since I’m breastfeeding Skyler, it’s extra important for me to stay on top of my nutritional needs. While I’m admittedly not the best at meal planning since my days became busier caring for a new baby, one thing that I make sure to do on a daily basis is to take a prenatal vitamin.
For this reason, I was excited to try The Premama Smoothie, which is blended with Premama’s prenatal multivitamin, whole fruits, and organic spinach. It tasted refreshing on a hot summer day here in Brooklyn, and I wouldn’t mind treating myself to this version of my daily prenatal dose on a regular basis!
Keep in mind, however, that there is no need to take an additional prenatal vitamin for the day if you do give the smoothie a try. It’s not intended for children, so mommas – this one is just for you. Check your local Smoothie King location for availability, and enjoy the goodness of fueling for a purpose all summer long!
• pineapple corer
I embarrassed myself a few weeks ago on my own Instagram stories by complaining about cutting a pineapple, even though I have a pineapple corer to make it easier.
Scott is always been the one to cut pineapples around our house, so I never really have to worry about it until he asked me to cut one. I got the corer out and just stared at it. I could’ve easily looked up how to use it, but instead I filmed a video about how I felt like it was unnecessary and just annoying in general to cut anything like whole watermelons or pineapple. (And guess what – I wasn’t alone! A lot of you think the same. Hehe.)
As it turns out, using a pineapple corer is super easy. We have this corer, but there are several different versions of it out there. You can find this simple tool on Amazon for under $10, and I have to admit that it does make buying whole pineapple is a little more tolerable and cost-effective in the long run.
• lakeside running
Every time I come back to Florida and attempt to run in the summertime, it amazes me that I used to do it close to every day — or at least several times a week during my half marathon training. Holy moly was it hot and humid out! But, that didn’t stop me from getting in around three miles with my mom yesterday.
I can run the same loop around my old neighborhood time and time again, but I never get sick of the views. My favorite part is just about a mile from the house that I grew up in, and it takes me here.
I always finish my runs with the reddest of faces and completely drenched in sweat. The temperature was in the lower eighties, but it felt so much warmer out with the humidity. I made sure to stay hydrated though, and I got through it. Kudos to all of you who bear those temps with activities outside all year long!
• favorite LIL posts
» No Equipment Pilates Core Workout
If I’m short on time and want to get a beneficial workout in, I’ll often turn to some kind of core circuit that incorporates more than one muscle group at a time. Pilates is one of my favorite ways to stay tone without having to make a trip to the gym, and I hope you like this equipment-free workout as much as I do!
» Tips For Living On A Budget in New York City
Tips to help those looking to make a move to a big city or even tighten the purse strings a little!
Your Turn
Have a wonderful weekend!
*Disclaimer: The Smoothie King portion of this post is sponsored. The smoothie was provided for me to try, and I was compensated to include my honest review and share more about it here. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for your support!

Where is your suit from?
Hi Samantha! Sorry, I’m just now seeing this. It’s from Target!
Isn’t the first time dipping your baby in the pool the cutest! I love seeing the reaction to pool water for the first time!
Our little girl has loved the water ever since and now she kicks and splashes and gets excited when she sees the pool!
P.S. he is the cutest little one!
xo, Lisa @ Mom Wife Design Life
Lisa recently posted…Friday Favorites #1 Week of 6/22
Awww hope you have a great time in Florida! Those trips are always a whirlwind, but so fun to do! Can’t wait to hear all about it!
Marielle recently posted…A Summer with Toddlers
Thanks for sharing I love ❤️ pineapple your swim suit is awesome.
A proper workout is still the best supplement you need. Workout supplements are just for assistance.
Absolutely amazing. Eating the right kind of food, exercising and being happy with your family is the ideal lifestyle. You are an inspiration to all of us Heather.
Heather, healthy food and ample exercise is the key to longevity and a happy lifestyle and your post is very inspiring as well as motivating to do just that!