2019-10-13
Hey friends! How are you guys doing today? This week was one of those odd weeks that felt like it was a million days long. I’m blaming it on the fact that Chase didn’t have school on Wednesday which made our Tuesday feel like it should be a Thursday and everything felt out of whack all week. But the weekend is here and I am READY for it!
Our weekend should be a good one. We’re hoping to take advantage of the sunny weather and fill our days with some festive fall activities as well as good food and family time. I am hoping to have the chance to share a recap of the fun on the blog on Monday but until then, let’s dive into my weekly roundup of favorites, shall we?
I hope you all have a fantastic weekend and that some gorgeous fall weather is coming your way!
Things I’m Loving Friday Halloween Books (+ Seeking Your Recommendations!)
As a kid, I loved reading holiday-themed books. My mom always tucked our family’s holiday books away with our holiday decorations every year so it felt like a treat when they came out of storage and we could read them again. I’ve started acquiring a small collection of holiday books for our boys over the years and when I decorated our home for fall last weekend, I unpacked our Halloween and Thanksgiving books as well. We have a few favorites in our house, but I’d love to hear any recommendations you might have for Halloween or Thanksgiving books for children. I checked four new-to-us books out at the library this week and they were all duds so I’m hoping you guys might be able to help us discover some new good ones this year.
And just in case you’re looking for recommendations as well here are our family’s current favorites:
For Chase: The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything (Chase gets so into this one! Highly recommended!), Room on the Broom, Pete the Cat: Trick or Treat
For Ryder: Little Blue Truck Halloween, Never Touch a Monster (not technically Halloween-specific but monster-themed and a great touch-and-feel interactive book)
Stasher Bags
When I shared the clear makeup bag I recently purchased for travel with you guys last week, I mentioned my love for a see-through pouch for the boys’ snacks and had a few questions pop up about that one as well. I used to use a Ziploc bag to corral the boys’ snacks but replaced them with non-toxic silicone Stasher bags and they’re the best. Not only do we use them for keeping snacks in one place in a backpack or diaper bag, but they’re also great for storing fruit, sandwiches, snacks, etc. since they’re dishwasher safe and easy to clean.
They seal well enough to secure liquid when we’re marinating something so I never worry about food or snacks or liquid falling out all over my bag or our refrigerator. Stasher bags come in a variety of sizes and our family uses the 1/2 gallon size and sandwich size most often. I highly recommend them both for their functionality and for the way they allow you to use less plastic. Win, win!
Meet Me in Monaco by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
Meet Me in Monaco was an unexpected delight. I admittedly went into the story not knowing much about Grace Kelly and her real-life wedding to the Prince of Monaco but that seemed to only increase my enjoyment of this novel. The book has heart and intrigue and kept me engaged the whole time. Though fictional, I enjoyed the way the story was woven into a true event in history.
Set in the 1950s, Meet Me in Monaco takes place in the middle of the paparazzi mayhem surrounding the wedding of the 26-year-old actress to Prince Rainier. Though Grace Kelly is a focal point of the story, we see glimpses of the soon-to-be princess through the lens (literally) of James, a photographer sent to capture images of Grace Kelly during her visit to Cannes during the famous film festival where she first met the prince and the woman who immediately catches his eye, Sophie, an ambitious but struggling perfumer whose chance meeting with Grace strikes up a life-long friendship.
Burn Boot Camp Upper Body Workout
You guys know by now that upper body workouts are my all-time favorite so I’m sure it’s no surprise to learn that my favorite workout of the week was this upper body blast from Burn Boot Camp. We cycled back and forth from the two exercises in each superset for a total of six minutes. It was a partner workout so the partner doing the exercise with the reps noted next to it was the person who told the other partner when to rotate.
Around the Web
Food: Cauliflower Chowder / One-Pan Veggie Curry / Double Chocolate Chunk Walnut Cookies
Fitness: 5 Exercises to Avoid During Pregnancy / Lessons From 11 Marathons / How to Fuel a Long Run / Body Image Like a Cavewoman (Not fitness-specific but I LOVED this post!)
Weekend Sales: 40% off at LOFT with code FALLFEST (I fell in love with this beautiful faux shearling coat and immediately ordered it… So much potential but I’m curious to see how it actually looks on and crossing my fingers I can pull it off! I also ordered this simple long-sleeve peplum tee since it seemed versatile enough to pair with jeans and booties or leggings and sneakers.)/ 40-60% off everything at American Eagle (I couldn’t resist ordering this tie-dye hoodie since I basically live in hoodies this time of year) / 40% off all tops and leggings at Aerie (I love their 7/8 high-waisted leggings and they’re only $24 on sale + this cozy sherpa looks like a dream) / 50% off sweaters and jeans at Old Navy (love this v-neck tunic)
Friday Flashbacks
Collagen Baked Oatmeal (I made this on Tuesday and it made grabbing a healthy breakfast all week long a breeze! I topped mine with peanut butter and blueberries.)
Do Anywhere Workout (A great workout to keep in mind for when holiday travel picks up… although all I can think about when I see these pics is how sick I was when they were taken! I was pregnant and had the flu and it was horrible!)
Question of the Day
What is one thing you are loving this week?
The post Things I’m Loving Friday #296 appeared first on Peanut Butter Fingers.
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