Happy Friday! This week has been a doozy, but I say that in the best way possible and with love.
I really can’t believe that I am typing up the 98th edition of Friday Favorites. You guys. I feel like we need something epic to celebrate the 100 mark in just a couple of weeks… any ideas?
In a true end of the week fashion, I’d love to hear about what has gotten you through the past few days and what has made you smile. I started this link up to share things I have been loving lately, but I really enjoy seeing what makes your weeks, too!
Feel free to party along by commenting with your faves, and if you’re a blogger, be sure to link up your #FFavorites with the blue Inlinkz button below!
Friday Favorites #98: Week of 7/17
• Starbucks refreshers
Starbucks has been my saving grace this week. I usually don’t veer off too much from my normal coffee and tea orders, but I have been all about the refreshers lately.
Have you tried the new Strawberry Acai flavor?
Um, delicious. It took me all of two minutes to finish this bad boy while catching up on some emails yesterday! Whoops.
• bonfires
One of my favorite part about Michigan summers is the gatherings around bonfires at night. It’s (usually) warm enough for tank tops or even swimsuits during the day, but normal summer nights in The Mitten often call for a sweatshirt.
We had a great little bonfire going Up North, and then spent a good few hours around another one at a friend’s house the very next day. A group of us literally just sat around the fire and chatted. For hours.
Scott and I lucked out by sharing the hammock seat, so we really didn’t move the majority time we were outside. I am truly in love with this time of year. #sun #boats #bonfires #happygirl
• lunch with new blogging buddies
As most of you know, I arrived in L.A. late yesterday morning! It didn’t take much time for me to connect with fellow bloggers, and I was looking forward to meeting a couple of new friends for lunch at Ford’s Filling Station.
My body was in need of some greens, so I ordered the chicken chopped salad and an unsweetened iced tea. I didn’t realize mine was served without cheese, though, until I practically licked the plate clean. (Y’all know I love my cheese!)
The best part about the meal was chatting blog shop with two new blogging buds!
Before traveling over to the west coast, I received an email from Beth to meet up, and I thought she was incredibly sweet. I instantly recognized her face as well as Susie’s when I met them in the hotel lobby, and off we went. By the way, both of these lovelies frequent the Friday Favorites link up. (Thanks, gals!)
As soon as we wrapped up lunch, we walked over to the Convention Center together to grab our registration packets and then stumbled upon a mass of activity on the way back! (See below…)
• ESPYS at our hotel
The ESPYS were this week! Did you watch them? I didn’t, but I did, however, see all of the hoorah up close and personal.
I could tell there was something going on outside of our hotel shortly after I arrived on Wednesday. There were a ton of people walking about, all looking towards one main attraction… the ESPYS Experience Court!
By 3 p.m., the dress around the hotel changed from casual to black tie. Many trendy outfits passed through the hotel lobby, and it was a straight up pre-ESPY event by 4 p.m. There were so many people, all dressed to the nines. It was pretty neat to see!
I subtly kept my spot in the lobby while working on the computer, but it got too loud to even hear myself think. Everyone was having a great time! I kept peeking around to see if anyone famous walked by, but no luck. It was cool to be a part of all the madness, even if it wasn’t intentional. 😉
• hotel beds
I don’t know what it is about hotel beds… but I always get the best sleep when I travel.
Maybe it’s because they’re smaller and softer than mine, or maybe it’s the combination of a bed to myself with blackout curtains, but whatever it is about hotel beds… I’m in love. Scott and I had this conversation not too long ago, and it makes me want to go by a hotel collection bed set and put up blackout blinds in our bedroom. Weird? Maybe. Whatever makes you happy, right?
• dinner with old (and new) blogging buddies
After a full day of travel, working on the computer in the hotel lobby, and chatting with fellow conference goers, I was pretty hungry for dinner. I was looking forward to catching up with some dear blogging friends and hanging out with a few new ones!
My roommate, Ashley, arrived just in time to drop her stuff off before joining a group of friends for dinner at The Farm of Beverly Hills. It was a cute little spot within walking distance of the hotel with what looked like to be a fantastic menu online.
While it wasn’t completely the same, it was goooood. It was a challenge to find just one thing to order, so I started with a cup of their corn chowder that was incredibly tasty.
There wasn’t any way I was getting past the sweet potatoes, so I ordered them on the side of a delicious veggie and quinoa burger with avocados, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
I skipped the bun since I knew the soup and fries would fill me up. That veggie quinoa burger though… yum.
Other notable items from the menu that my co-hearts ordered included the Macaroni and Cheese, Ahi Three Ways Salad and Salmon Salad. It was so great to relax after a long day and catch up with a great group of women I don’t get to see very often.
Ashley, Katy, Gina, Jessica, Sandra, Giselle, Me
We’ve had a blast kicking things off at IDEA with BlogFest so far, and I’ll be sure to share more details next week!
• favorite LIL posts
» Summer Total Bodyweight Burner
» Hiking Pyramid Point, Lake Michigan
» Q&A Interview with Gabby Reece
Also, don’t forget to enter to win a $150 gift card from Lorna Jane!
• Friday funnies
We’ve all been here.
How I am going to feel by Sunday.
And, one Ryan Gosling meme for the road.
Aren’t they great?
Your Turn
Have a great weekend!
Disclaimer: Friday Favorites is a series of posts that features items I genuinely want to share with you. While #FFavorites isn’t sponsored, affiliate links may appear from time to time. As always, any support is much appreciated! <3
![[in our elementary school era] 🚌😭
Skyler did great walking into KINDERGARTEN with a big smile on his face this morning. I, however, was a bit of a mess on our walk home. 🥹
It’s wild how fast these 5 years with him have gone … 7 since we moved to NYC and into our apartment, dreaming of the day our kids would someday go to the *awesome* school right down our block. 🏫
That day is today, and I still don’t believe it — feeling allll of the emotions and thanking God for placing us here and for being able to trust His timing through the journey. 🫶🏼 #hbshinnyc
SO proud of you, SK - you are going to rock your first year at your “big boy school” - WE LOVE YOU !! 🩵👑](https://lifeinleggings.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
Starbucks also has a new mango flavor that I am loving with green tea!
How neat that you were so close to the ESPY’s! I would have been in full fan mode looking for Derek Jeter or something. 😉
Oh, that sounds fantastic! Yes, it was pretty neat being RIGHT there!
No clue about the refreshers, the flavor sounds delicious! I usually order the berry flavor with half passion ice tea unsweetened.
YES, you should try them as soon as possible 😉
They’re handing out those tanks at the end of BlogFest, right? Haha. Again, thank you so much for taking the time to have lunch and offer your advice–I sincerely appreciate it. I’ll probably be pestering you with more questions in the near future. 😉
Haha, they totally should! I mean… we’ve earned them. I’m so glad we were able to hang. Thanks again for lunch, and please feel free to message me any time! <3
I haven’t tried the new refreshers flavor, but it sounds delicious! I’m lovin’ your hot pink tennies! Meeting up with other bloggers and talking shop is sooo much fun! I haven’t done that in a while and this is the second blog today people have had the chance to meet up this week so I’m feeling the itch. Have a great weekend and happy friday!
Thanks! They are throwback Reebok Skyscapes. You can find them pretty cheap now from the Reebok website: http://bit.ly/1I955Px or even department stores! http://bit.ly/1Lfp93i 😉
I can’t wait to try the new flavor of the refreshers! My favorite right now is Very Berry. Enjoy LA!
Ohhh that’s a good one. Thanks!
I’m not a coffee person, so I usually get a refresher if I get anything at Starbucks. I love the lime one, but the strawberry acai sounds lovely. Have fun this weekend!
I’ve never tried the lime one… good to know!
You had to know that you would be in my favorites this week! It has been such a pleasure to spend time with you and get to know you better/in real life. And you are right, those Starbucks refreshers are MONEY!!
Woo HOO! I’m so glad I got to meet you guys. I just love hanging with blends. <3
Have so much fun at IDEA!!!
Thanks Erin, it would be fun to see you here sometime!
Bonfires are the best! I refuse to wash my hoodie for as long as possible after camping and/or bonfires. I just love the smell. 🙂
Hahaha, I’m actually not a huge fan of the smell that lingers. I do, however, love the smell of pine. Where you at, Christmas?
Looks like you’re having a blast! I have to come next year..I’m getting major FOMO from all the pictures 🙂 I also totally agree about the strawberry acai refresher. SO good. Dan and I always stop at Starbucks after our running club on Wednesdays as our “treat” and that was the perfect drink after a long hot run!
Have a great weekend!
Starbucks after a long run sounds like a fantastic treat! I hope you enjoy your weekend, Gretchen!
Looks like you are having a fabulous time! I hope to get to the conference next year. I have been loving iced green tea – the refresher looks delicious!
We are! IDEA and BlogFest is such a great experience. I hope you get out here next year too!
Summer bonfires are definitely the best! I have great memories of being in the Outer Banks as a teenager and my girlfriends and I would visit all the bonfires along the beach making friends every summer.
Hope the conference is a blast!
Thanks Kelly, we are having a great time! I sense a relaxing bonfire in my future when I get back… 😉
Have so much fun at IDEA! One day I will make it there 🙂
You and me both, Annette! Next year?!?!
WOOT!!! 🙂
I hope so, it would be fun to see you!
Of course, Friday Favorites is my FAVORITE post. Can’t believe you’re almost at 100! And yes for all of your favorites this week around BlogFest. 🙂
Woo hoo! I know, right? A major celebration is in order… get on your party leggings!
I love the Starbucks refreshers! I was excited to try out the strawberry acai last weekend, but they were out of it when I ordered it. Bummer! I just may have to make a stop over there this weekend to try again 🙂
Oh no… you need to try again next time you’re in! 😉
Have fun!! You’re close to my normal hood!
I hope to have more time to explore the area on Sunday. Lovin’ the sunshine!
I can’t wait to read about your weekend at IDEA! 🙂
Hi Tara! I’m sure there will be a series of long and detailed posts of the sessions and experience… 😉
I would love to go to IDEA one day – have a blast there!
Thanks! I hope to see you here down the road 🙂
Those Starbucks Refreshers sound tasty! I’m making it my goal for next year to attend IDEA. It always looks and sounds like such a blast. Glad you gals are having fun!
It IS! I love meeting and hanging with other bloggers, but the sessions (both in BlogFest and out) are awesome! You can also get in plenty of CEUs/CECs for certifications. 😉 I hope to attend next year as well!
I’ve always wanted to build a fire pit in my yard like that! It would be so cool, haha!
That starbucks drink sounds awesome! My favorite fruity tea there though will always be the Iced Passion tea! So good!
I’ve never tried that one. It looks like I’m missing out!
Looks like you had a great trip and how nice to meet up with some other great bloggers! Bonfires can be so relaxing. Looks like you had some amazing food this week too! Is it dinner time yet?!? Have a great weekend. Winks and Eyerolls
Thanks Sierra & Faith, I hope you guys have an awesome weekend!
I would love to try that flavor ! Give me some of that boyfriend material hahaha! Have fun this weekend. :
Hehehehe, so great! Hope you’re enjoying the weekend!