Hello and Happy Friday to you!
It’s been a great (albeit busy) week over here, but all good things to report.
Scott’s back in town (for now), so the biggest high point has been spending time with him whenever he’s not working in the City. It’s crazy to think how much his business and work schedule has gone from almost zero to sixty in just a few months’ time. The pandemic is still here, no doubt, but it finally feels like there might be a light at the end of the tunnel here. We are still here in NYC and we’re pushing through!
This edition of Friday Favorites is includes a new quick and healthy no-bake recipe, strength workouts, highlights from trips to Manhattan, live music finds in Brooklyn and more.
Thanks for being here and checking in today!
FRIDAY FAVORITES: WEEK OF 9/24
- No-Bake Pumpkin Maple Energy Bites
First things first, we have to talk about these pumpkin maple energy bites that officially kicked off the fall baking season this year. (Or in this case, the no-baking season?) You’re going to want to save this one and give it a go!
Have you ever tried a no-bake recipe? They’re so quick and easy!
This one is perfect to prep in a jiffy and enjoy for breakfast, for an afternoon stack or even while on-the-go! It’s family-friendly and toddler approved, too.
I included a protein powder, but you don’t have to. I also chose to use almond butter over peanut (which made it creamier), but you can really do whatever you’d like. It only takes a few minutes to gather the ingredients, mix everything together and make the balls to serve and eat right there.
If you ask me, the hardest part is waiting for the dough to set in the freezer! Energy bites are such a great thing to have on hand for healthy snacking in the week ahead.
This post features key ingredients from my friends at NOW Foods. (You probably already know that I trust this brand for high-quality, safe foods and supplements at a fantastic price point.)
Energy bites are such a great thing to have on hand for healthy snacking in the week ahead. Please let me know if you end up giving this recipe a try, and use the promo code LIFEINLEGGINGS for 20% off your order at nowfoods.com!
- an afternoon in Midtown
Getting out to explore Midtown, Manhattan has become a new tradition after church on Sundays. We’re already right near the Times Square area, so it’s a good excuse to stay out for a bit and see both familiar and new-to-us things.
Last week, Scott wanted to take Skyler to the Disney Store since he missed out on the first experience the week before. That was fun, and then we popped into a nearby store called Line Friends right around the corner. (Sky loved all of the animals including Mega Brown the bear and minions there.)
We grabbed slices for lunch at Carnegie Pizza (the best pizza place near Times Square, in my opinion), and took our time strolling around. The afternoon out ended in Bryant Park, after Scott played a round of ping pong. Side note, did you know you can sign up to play casual ping pong tournaments in the park for free? You can!
We grabbed a round of coffees at Joe & the Juice (a go-to cafe), took a spin on the carousel and headed to the trains shortly after. It was a great little day!
- clean beauty spotted in the City
Speaking of the trains, I snapped this photo while heading down to the subway a few weeks ago and never shared it here. I spy #betterbeauty ads, which is something that I hadn’t really spotted in person before.
Yes, there is a Beautycounter retail store here in NYC, but that’s really the extent of what I’ve seen branded in the City outside of short commercial ads in taxis. It was pretty cool to see!
And while we’re on the subject of seeing beautiful things … the new Think Big All-In-One Mascara is where it’s at. It’s an incredible upgrade, and I highly recommend it as the new clean mascara in your makeup bag.
- 3 strength workouts you can try
I haven’t been sharing as many new workouts as normal, thanks to the Peloton App. I’ve been loving following along with strength circuits at home as well as the outdoor audio workouts on my runs. This has resulted in less time at the gym, so I thought it might be helpful to circle back on a few workout shares that you might have missed around here.
Strength & Stability Workout
This first workout was put together with gym equipment, but you can complete it with a stability ball and dumbbells if you do dumbbell rows for the lat pulldowns and triceps kickbacks for the push downs.
Complete each group of exercises as a circuit for three total rounds before moving on to the next one.
CIRCUIT ONE:
CIRCUIT TWO:
CIRCUIT THREE:
Total Body Strength Dumbbell Workout
This one only requires a few sets of dumbbells and a workout bench or sofa.
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.
EXERCISE BREAKDOWN
dumbbell single arm rows (on bench)
dumbbell overhead triceps extensions
dumbbell Bulgarian split squats
Stability Ball & Dumbbell Workout
This next workout is broken up into two sections, first focusing on the core and then the arms with a total body finisher. Using the stability ball for the arm exercises like the flyes adds core and lower body work, too!
Follow the reps as listed and complete the first circuit for 2-3 rounds before moving onto the next one. The full workout took me under 45 minutes for three rounds.
EXERCISE BREAKDOWN
stability ball sit-ups (option to hold a dumbbell)
side plank rotations (option to hold dumbbell)
stability ball bridges (straight or bent legs)
stability ball dumbbell reverse flyes (or this version, as the first is tricky)
dumbbell alternating lunges with biceps curls
single arm dumbbell triceps kickbacks
kettlebell (or dumbbell) swings
Disclaimer: If you’re new to strength training, please make sure that you’re cleared by a doctor before you try any of these workouts. Modify when needed, take breaks when your body needs them and reach out with any questions!
- Barbès (Park Slope, Brooklyn)
One of the best recent surprises was finding free live music in the neighborhood, right around the corner from our apartment. Scott and I both pass Barbès on a daily basis, but have never actually gone in or sat outside. That changed when we heard the talented Sarah King singing and her band playing jazz classics, and all were very talented.
So, we pulled up chairs at a table and ordered a round to take in the sounds and views. Skyler had an iced cranberry juice, straight up, and it was a great end to the weekend. (Here’s hoping she’ll be back again soon!)
- favorite LIL posts
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Sharing all about life with a toddler at 3.5 years old, what he’s been loving, toddler parent favorites, milestones, stories and more today. (Warning, lots of cute Sky photos included!)
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Have you ever started a new year thinking it’s going to be *the* year that you get and stay fit? You start off great, lose motivation and then do the same thing the next year? Break the cycle with these tips on how to stay on track with hitting your fitness goals!
All right, it’s time to sign off and get ready for the day with Skyler. We have plans to go to an indoor play gym while Scott’s out and then laying low tonight and tomorrow. We’re going to a friend’s show in Coney Island on Sunday, so I’m sure they’ll be some stories to share soon.
Until then, you can keep up with the adventures on Instagram. Have a great weekend!
*Disclaimer: The NOW Foods portion of this post is sponsored, and all opinions remain my own. 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 truly appreciate you. Always.
[…] All right. I think that just about wraps things up for today. Skyler and I have a date for a long walk through the park this afternoon, so I’m going to pack some snacks and get ready. (Still re-making and loving these pumpkin balls!) […]