Hello and Happy Friday to you, my friend!
Thank you for coming over to visit the blog today. I just love chatting with you, and it’s always fun to take a look back at the week and compile the best parts to share in this weekly Friday Favorites series.
Can you believe that I started this round-up back in 2013?! (Throwback to the first faves post where I mentioned Shazam and pumpkin spice lattes as highlights. If that doesn’t date this series, I don’t know what does! Haha.)
I’m not going to lie, it is fun for me to search the archives of this blog from time to time. There is a world full of content filed away on almost anything and everything. I’ve attempted to categorize everything in a searchable fashion, but there is still a lot more work to be done there. One day!
Just know that I enjoy taking trips down memory lane, and I enjoy the reflection that follows when I stumble upon some of those posts to see how different life has become today. Like, whoa!
And speaking of things that make me smile, let’s transition into the latest edition of favorites that takes a look back at what’s been going on around here. I have been solo parenting for six days, and both Skyler and I are ecstatic to have Scott back home tomorrow night. Skyler fully recovered from cold a few days ago (hallelujah!), and it wasn’t easy to navigate several meetings, classes and virtual events by myself with him in the background, but we had some notable moments along the way, too.
FRIDAY FAVORITES: WEEK OF 2/26
- new sunglasses and an awesome giveaway for you!
In case you missed it, I am hosting a giveaway once a month over on Instagram! This is a mix of personal and sponsored gifts that are valued anywhere from $50-$500+, so keep your eyes peeled during the last week of every month for a new announcement!
This month, I’m teaming up with eyebobs to raffle off a $300 credit to shop for a new pair of prescription glasses, bluelight blocking glasses, sunglasses or all of the above.
I was gifted the same credit amount to shop with back in December, and I snagged these adorable clear Rx frames (with bluelight blockers) and two pairs of sunglasses! I’m wearing the Wedge Polarized sunnies in the picture above, and I also scored the Charmed Polarized sunnies in Tortoise.
They all come in cute cases and are high-quality with the perfect amount of edge that I was looking for. I’m obsessed!
If you’re in need of a glasses refresh, make sure to visit this post to get in on my giveaway that ends on Tuesday, and use the promo code lifenleggings10 to get 10% off of your order here!
- slowly getting back to outside runs
It took me a longer scroll than I expected to make on my Apple Watch when I searched for the “Outdoor Run” workout yesterday. That made me think about the last time I went for a run outdoors, and I honestly couldn’t remember. I don’t like that feeling!
The main culprit of my temporary absence from outdoor running is the level of snowfall we’ve had lately. This is the first time I’ve seen the running path actually cleared to run or bike on in several weeks.
Realizing this, I scrapped my plans to go to the gym yesterday and traded that time for a loop though the park before I picked Skyler up from preschool. With temperatures in the mid-40s and the sunset peeking through the trees, it was the perfect breath of fresh air that I needed and reminded me that I shouldn’t take that much time away from running again. (Running inside on a treadmill and in a mask just isn’t the same!)
Fresh air really is so good for the body, mind and soul. <3
- Starbucks Southwest Veggie Wrap (& notes on others)
I discovered a new breakfast wrap at Starbucks several months ago, and now I have ordered it enough to include it here. It’s really, really good and a step up from your average breakfast sandwich choice, in my opinion.
It’s called the Southwest Veggie Wrap, and while it is healthier than most options on the menu, it isn’t necessarily the best choice. The cholesterol and saturated fat level is a little up there and taking a second look at the nutritional information now, I see that it probably has to do with the Cotija cheese and jalapeño cream cheese combo. But man, it is good.
If you’re looking to keep those numbers down, however, I would recommend trying one of my all-time faves, the Spinach, Feta & Egg White Wrap. That said, both are considerably better-for-you than your typical bacon, egg, and cheese croissant sandwich. And they’re delicious!
- pro tips for applying face masks
I received the cutest headband and face mask applicator set as a reward for hitting a recent goal with Beautycounter, and now that I have used it to apply my weekly charcoal mask, I can’t go back to not using one. It makes it ten times easier to apply without a getting it all over your hands, and it even makes your product go further than it would on its own.
(Find similar concepts here, here and here.)
Another pro tip for using a charcoal mask is to put one on ten minutes before you need to hop in the shower. This way, you can wash it off as soon as you get in and avoid the mess it can make in your sink all together. This was a huge lightbulb moment for me when I tried it the other day!
I’m looking forward to a virtual self-care party I’m hosting with a few friends tonight at 7:30pm EST, so let me know if you’d like to join and unwind with some lighthearted chatter and your beverage of choice. We’re raffling off SIX full-sized products (including two must-haves: The All Bright C Serum and Overnight Resurfacing Peel), and it’s going to be so fun!
Also, if you’re new to Beautycounter and , use the code CLEANFORALL20 to get 20% off your first order. Get daily tips and more ways to save by joining the Life In Leggings – Beautycounter Page, the and please reach out if you need help with anything at all.
- *NEW* Total Body Strength Dumbbell Workout
I put a new workout together at the gym this week, and I wanted to share it with you since it left me sore and only requires dumbbells!
These circuits focus on total body strength, and only require a few sets of dumbbells and a bench. Ideally, you should have a set of light, medium, and heavy dumbbells. If you don’t have a bench, you could do the chest presses from the floor, complete the rows standing, and use your sofa for the spilt squats. (It’s all about getting creative!)
Complete each group of exercises as a circuit before moving on to the next one, and remember to be mindful in your weight selections. If the workout calls for 12-15 reps, you should be able to complete only 12-15 reps each time.
Here’s a general rule to follow when picking your weights. If you can’t get up to 12 reps, lower the weight. If you could do more than 15 reps, up the weight, and this is how you know that you’re where you’re supposed to be.
If you’re new to strength training, please make sure that you’re cleared by a doctor before you try this. Modify when needed, take breaks when your body needs them and reach out with any questions!
EXERCISE BREAKDOWNS
dumbbell single arm rows (on bench)
dumbbell overhead triceps extensions
dumbbell Bulgarian split squats
By the way, I share similar workouts in Instagram Stories, and I almost always follow them up with exercise descriptions and notes shared on the Life In Leggings Community group. From there, I like to share some of them here, but you will always find them in those places first!
- favorite LIL posts
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Feel like you need more time for healthier habits? This post shows examples of how to strategically group things together in your current routine to minimize stress and enable you to do more things by the end of every day.
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This beef stew is loaded with vegetables, spices, and healthy ingredients. It’s chunky and you can even make it vegetarian by substituting beefless tips and vegetable broth. Grab your instant pot and get ready to enjoy in an hour!
Okay, I think that wraps things up for today.
This post is coming at you a bit later since Skyler and I made our tradition of Playground & Pizza Fridays happen earlier today. Now we’re heading back out to get some clean beauty samples in the mail, and I’m learning a few dances to perform with our kid’s church ministry after that before the virtual self-care party via Zoom. Haha, sometimes writing my life out like this just makes me laugh … but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I feel grateful to be able to do what I do!
Thank you for checking in today, and I hope you have a great weekend!
*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 always appreciate you!
![[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)
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