Friday Favorites – March 4, 2016

I don’t know about you, but I needed the positive vibes this morning, hence why I reached for this coffee cup versus my typical mug of choice. The past few days have been pretty stressful between work and some personal stuff. But, luckily it’s nothing that can’t be cured with some yoga, a long run and some relaxation this weekend. We started the weekend vibes last night with a double date which included delicious Italian food and much-needed catch-up time with friends. We’ve all been so busy with work and travel that it’d been far too long since we caught up. This weekend I have a 10-mile long run tomorrow morning in Central Park to run part of the NYC Half course, and then I’m going to hang out at Fhitting Room tomorrow afternoon for their Survival of the Fhittest competition which they are hosting as part of their three-year anniversary party. In between that sweaty fun we are going to have some family time as my father-in-law is in town. Tomorrow night will be a nice relaxing night in with family, catching up on all things wedding and cooking in the kitchen together. I can’t believe Meg (my sister-in-law in case you’re new to the blog) and Russell’s wedding is in less than 2.5 months! What do you guys have planned this weekend?

As promised, in regular Friday fashion, here is this week’s version of Friday Favorites. So, as you count down the hours until the weekend begins, let’s dive into this week’s edition of Friday Favorites, including recipes, articles, posts and other things that caught my eye this week.

Have you heard about the new Under Armour shoes which feature technology that track and record your runs?! I loved reading Jess’ review of the shoes earlier this week. I wonder how quickly other running brands will follow?

If I could eat any sandwich, regardless of it’s caloric content, it would be a chicken salad sandwich. It’s the ultimate comfort food, especially when served on fresh bread and enjoyed outside in the Savannah sunshine.  This recipe includes all the delicious flavors without all the fat. I added this recipe to my Pinterest board so I can whip it up next week.

Like most runners, I don’t spend enough time stretching or rolling out my sore muscles. Luckily, just in time for tomorrow’s long run, I found these seven foam roller exercises which are just the inspiration I need to dig out my foam roller and spend some quality time rolling on it this afternoon.

My friends at Brooks sent me the new Brooks Launch 3 to test out during my runs this week and I was blown away. They are light enough for my speed workouts at Mile High but supportive enough for long runs. I’ll do a more in-depth review after I’ve worn them for a few more runs but right now I’m in love with not only the fun, neon color but also the perfect mix of extra cushion and support.

I haven’t met anyone who doesn’t love Instagram for it’s bright pictures and easy to follow content. Regardless of whether you’re a blogger or not, it’s a great way to share snippets of your life or highlight your creative side. Evann shared a great post yesterday which highlights the ways she leverages five FREE apps to edit her photos.  Of the apps she recommended, I use SnapSeed the most but have downloaded the others so I can start testing them.

After growing my hair out for the past five years, I was desperately ready for a change. My hair wasn’t feeling healthy even afte regular trims and treatments. After testing it for a week, I can officially say that I’m in love with my new, shorter hairstyle. It’s far easier and feels like a healthy, fresh change for Spring. If you’re looking for a hair stylist, I can’t recommend Rebecca at Sara June enough. She’s a joy to work with and truly listens to her clients requests! (Yes mom, I will smile more in my pictures, I promise.)

 

After trying a few different mascara samples over the past few months, I finally returned to my favorite this week. For my short lashes, there is no better mascara than Benefit’s They’re Real. The brush lifts, lengthens and curls my lashes while the formula keeps them plump and full without clumping or drying. Unlike other mascaras I’ve tried, this mascara can easily be removed with eye makeup remover while still having the staying power to last through a hot yoga class.

A few weeks ago I mentioned that my girlfriend and I are heading to Jamaica in April for a much needed girls weekend away. A tropical, beach vacation means that I need a few new swimsuits. I tried on my swimsuits this week and fortunately for my body but unfortunately for my wallet, they are all too big. Since I am an A cup upstairs, I’ve been checking out a number of styles that flatter smaller chests. I have my eyes on this, this and this,  each of which are all on sale at Macys.  What’s your favorite swimsuit? Any suggestions? 

As I mentioned, this week was busier and more hectic than normal. Since my father-in-law is staying with us this weekend, I took advantage of Handy and booked a maid for this afternoon. Have you used Handy yet? A great website and app, Handy allows you to book professional cleaners, painters, plumbers and even Ikea furntiure assemblers with just a few clicks. Available in most major cities, you can save $35 off your first booking using this link.

 

After a few months away, I returned to Y7 yoga studio last night with a few fellow ClassPass (<–Save $25 off your first month) ambassadors.  The lovely Kristen Nichols led us through a 60-minute fast-paced vinyasa flow. The studio is heated to around 85 degrees, dimly lit with candles and energized with music ranging from rap to house. The class was more challenging than I remembered but also the perfect way to release some stress and sweat with friends. If you’re worried about giving it a try because you’re new to yoga or out of practice, don’t worry! My friend Diana joined last night and LOVED it even though it was her first yoga practice in three years! They do a wonderful job creating a supportive space for people of all abilities, shapes and sizes.

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and instead is a list of the things of my favorite things this week. As normal, it includes lots of beauty and fashion items which means there are a few affiliate links via ShopStyle. It takes time and money to maintain a blog so I thank you for the support and few cents that come from clicking through the links!