Friday Favorites
It's been a long time since I've done one of these. Sometimes it feels like I can't post until I have something super meaningful and motivational to share. But part of being a good friend is being well rounded. I love encouraging you in this space. But...I also love to watch TV, eat yummy snacks, and wear cute clothes. And I want to tell you about that stuff, too! So here we go!
1. THE shorts.
On social media this week I shared this photo of me in my absolute new favorite pair of denim shorts. I have been basically scouring this internet trying to find cute distressed denim shorts that didn't cost a fortune and didn't also look like a denim diaper (you know the ones I'm talking about). A friend introduced me to Striped, an online boutique. I was so excited to see the shorts of my dreams when I landed on her page. AND they cost $34. Hello!! I immediately got a pair. The waist is the perfect rise, 4.5 inch inseam, no thigh squish, no sagging material after a few hours of wear. Win win win win win. She adds new items to the shop almost every single day so go check out her shop! For reference, I'm 5'11, 155-160 lbs. (depending on the amount of chocolate consumed), and normally wear a size 10 in jeans & shorts. I got the large and they fit perfectly. Mine are the lighter wash. Use the code coldcoffee10 for 10% off your order!
2. Cucumber water with peppermint
I've been trying to focus on my water intake, especially since the heat of summer is basically already here. I honestly love water, but I wanted to make it even more appealing. So I've been slicing cucumber, then adding it and one drop of peppermint essential oil (I use this one from Plant Therapy) to a water jug that I keep in my fridge. It's 64 ounces so I know I need to drink all of it plus another full cup or two (I use this cup and love it!) to get the right amount I need each day. It's so refreshing, especially now that it's hot outside.
3. Natural Calm
I'm so obsessed with this stuff, y'all. It's a magnesium supplement that's made to help with stress. I heard about it from a friend years ago. She kept it in her water glass anytime she was at an event with a large crowd to help her social anxiety. I got it a few months ago when I realized I was struggling with some anxiety related issues brought out by difficult parenting situations (that's a nice way of saying my now 4 year old was being craaaaaay cray). I don't really have those issues anymore, but now I drink it every night at bedtime. I fall asleep like a champ. And I STAY asleep. I used to lay on my pillow and toss and turn for way to long before finally falling asleep, so this has been a huge game changer for me.
I may be getting ahead of myself a bit with this one, but that's never stopped me before. I got this cookbook in the mail this week, and I'm super pumped about it. Dinner is hard for me! I want to cook for my family, but 4 PM - 6 PM at my house is INSANITY every single day. So I get overwhelmed and just end up serving the kids chicken nuggets and then Jonathan and I end up eating random leftover things. Not exactly an ideal family meal situation. It works for us, and I know this season won't last forever. But I'm excited to get my hands on a resource with recipes fully intended for families, that fit into our real life. The cookbook is beautiful, each recipe has photos of the finished product and step by step, which this not-so-fancy cook needs. It comes out June 5, but you can pre-order it now! I'm planning to share some full recipes with y'all soon!!
5. So YaYa cleansing balm
I did a skincare post not too long ago, but that was before I got to try the natural skincare products from my new friend Rachel! She makes a line of oil cleansing based products that are hands down the best I have tried. My skin loves this cleansing balm so much! I can feel that it's cleaning and gently exfoliating my skin. It comes off easily which is not the case with a lot of oil cleansers. It moisturizes. It smells really good. The price point is amazing. And it's a local mom-owned business. If you are struggling with your skin or just wanting to try something new, I recommend checking out her shop. If you are in the Baton Rouge area, she sets up a table at the market downtown on Saturdays as well! Treat yo' skin to some love!!
6. Going Scared podcast
I have been loving this new podcast from Jessica Honegger (founder of Noonday Collection). Each interview is packed with so much good tangible information and encouragement. This week's episode with Alison Faulkner is SO GOOD. I listen while I drive, but I need to listen again at home so I can write down all of my take-aways. I can't even sum it up for you because there was so much, so you should just go ahead and listen to it, k? And then come back and tell me how much you loved it, too!
That's it! That's the big things I am loving right now. I want to hear from you! What are you loving that I need in my life?! Share away in the comments. And if you want to hear from some other fabulous women about their favorite things, head to this link where lots of other bloggers link up and you'll find a ton!
Some, but not all, of the items I shared today are affiliate links.