Friday Favorites: Quarantine Week 20

Hi friends and Happy Friday! How are you holding up out there?

It’s been a weird week over here for sure. I think twenty weeks of our city and world being completely different is starting to get to me. Times are strange, and we’re just another week into the madness with hopes that the next week will prompt more change than the last!

We’re all just doing our best to take it all one day and week at a time, am I right? And that’s all we can do. So, as usual, today I’m here with a lighthearted read to recap the little things that made me smile this week in this edition of Friday Favorites.

Let’s dive right in, shall we?

LATEST FAVES — QUARANTINE WEEK 20

• Prospect Park Zoo

Things are slowly starting to re-open under strict guidelines here in New York City, and I’m all about it. We’ve been inside for the majority of our days for over four months, so we are ready to get out and explore, as long as it feels safe.

Well, after living in Park Slope for four and a half years, we finally visited the Prospect Park Zoo on Monday!

I couldn’t tell you why we hadn’t been before the world turned upside down, but we gained a strong interest to do so during quarantine. Our long walks through the park often led us past the entrance gates where you can spot the sea lions and peacocks. This turned into a game of finding as many animals as we could from the outside, and we were able to see a few barn animals and the ostriches from time to time.

The zoo re-opened last Saturday with many of the exhibits still closed for public safety. We had to purchase tickets online ahead of time, as capacity is limited and capped to a certain amount of patrons per hour. Masks are required for entry, and the paths lead you one way to allow traffic to move smoothly in the same direction with as little interaction as possible.

The restrooms were open, but the food concessions were closed, so we brought our own refreshments and felt very safe the whole time. It’s not a huge zoo, but there was plenty to keep Skyler entertained and we will plan to visit again soon!

My favorite part was seeing the sea lions from the inside. They swam and danced around on the rocks! It was almost like they put on a show for us and missed the people who hadn’t been able to visit for months and months.

It was so cute! See ya later, dudes.

• a killer clean beauty combo

It’s not uncommon to feel overwhelmed when trying to switch over to safer beauty products. You tend to want everything at once, right? I know I did. But you really don’t have to go that route, and this is where I can help you.

My biggest piece of advice to people interested in trying Beautycounter is to first look at what they have and slowly replace what they are running out of with a safer option. Also, I recommend products that are unique to the brand, and unlike other products on the market.

This brings me to my favorite duo right now, the All Bright C Serum and the Overnight Resurfacing Peel — two Beautycounter standouts. Both are summer staples and perfect for almost anyone to try who is interested in minimizing dark or sun spots, a brighter and more even skin tone, and less fine lines and wrinkles.

I will always recommend a good cleanser and moisturizer to start, but these are my go-to all-star products next on my list. I can’t say enough great things about both of them, as the All Bright C Serum gives you that punch of Vitamin C every morning and the Peel treats your skin overnight about every other night or so.

If you’ve never ordered from Beautycounter before, you can get your entire order at 20% off through TODAY, 7/31! Enter the code CLEANFORALL20 upon checkout, and let me know if you need any help at all.

• a somewhat cheesy, but very feel-good watch

I’m not embarrassed to say that I’ve been tuning into Netflix more than I had in the past right now. We’re doing our best to get to the other side of this COVID craziness, and if I just want to unwind by doing something that helps me relax at the end of the night when I’m tired and mentally drained, I’m going to do it. And right now, it’s indulging in feel-good television.

After several moms from our church’s dinner party recommended Sweet Magnolias, I finally gave the first season a watch this week. I zipped through the ten episodes in no time, and I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did.

The storyline and characters can be very cheesy at times, especially with the over-exaggerated Southern twain and phrases, but it’s sweet and actually relatable. I adore the main character, Maddie, and how she handles her struggles one day at a time. And now I want to work or train clients at a spa for the low-key stress and obvious relaxation benefits. Ha!

Anyways, if you’re looking for an escape from the serious and intense shows and documentaries, I’d recommend this one!

• a brief break from regular workouts

I talked about this on Instagram yesterday, and I need to include it here since I typically share a recap of my last week of workouts. I had a few good ones, but for the most part, I took a much-needed break from my (almost) daily workouts.

I don’t think people share about the concept of taking breaks from working out enough. Fitness professionals and enthusiasts are often pictured as people who always show up, not matter what, and a lot of them do. But, I think it’s just as important to note when there is an “off” week added into the mix, because we all have them and it’s totally okay.

I had two great strength sessions early on in the week, and then I took a break from workouts outside of long walks from Sunday to Thursday. My body just felt tired, and I wanted to listen to it. I slept in or took a nap during the times I would normally use to work out, and my body thanked me for the extra rest that I guess it needed.

Feeling ready to move, I laced up my running shoes yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed a solo run around the park. I explored new paths, took extra stairs and hills, and remembered why I love running so much in the first place. It’s my “me” time where I can throw on a good workout playlist, tune out, and just go until I don’t want to anymore. It’s the best.

I made it five miles before coming home to make dinner for the crew, and I felt like a new person after a good stretch and a shower. There really is something to be said about listening to your body and slowing down when you need to. Rest is not the enemy, and my four-day hiatus has recharged me to get back at it with more motivation!

• favorite LIL posts

» Toddler-isms By Skyler: Two Years Old

This is a very lighthearted read, and I hope you enjoy the glimpse into what life with our toddler is like. I’ll be back with a full Skyler update when he hits the 2.5 mark in September, but for now, I hope this post brings a smile to your face!

» (45 Minute) Total Body Dumbbell Workout

If you’re looking for a challenging set of circuits that hit every major muscle group, grab a light, medium, and heavy set of dumbbells and try this one! Complete the first circuit in its entirety before going to the next, rest, then move onto the next one. If you complete each exercise as directed, you will do 90 reps of each! Please feel free to modify.

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All right, it’s time for me to wrap things up and get back outside now that the rain has cleared up a bit. Skyler and I have a big adventure planned to walk to Target with a few stops at the playground and a “dizzy dragon” along the way. You’ve gotta love the little things that make the days brighter right now!

Have a great weekend, be well, and stay safe out there!

*Disclaimer: Friday Favorites posts may contain affiliate links. Also, I am a Beautycounter consultant and love what I do with the company. By using the links provided in this post to order products, you are supporting my business. I appreciate you so much!