Friday Favorites
Happy Friday! Are you guys as excited as I am that the weekend is finally here?
We’re getting ready to head out to Carmel tomorrow morning to celebrate our first wedding anniversary (it’s hard to believe it’s been a year already!) and I can hardly wait. Between being cooped up inside all winter and working as much as humanly possible, my husband and I are in major need of some downtime together. As you might imagine, that means I’ll be spending more time in the moment and less time on the computer but I’m sure I’ll be back before you guys even notice I’m gone. :)
In the meantime, I’ve found lots of goodies from around the web to share with you that I hope you enjoy. Have a wonderful weekend and I’ll see ya soon!
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Favorite Guide: A DIY Guide to Green Cleaning. Tis the season for cleaning! I’m always on the lookout for natural alternatives to chemical laden products and this chart lists a ton of great options that you can easily make yourself. I already use the baking soda vinegar combination to clean our shower, toilets and sinks, and making my own laundry detergent is next on the list. Have any of you tried it yet?
Favorite Appetizer: Mango Salsa. It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of mango salsa so when I laid eyes on Heidi’s version with strawberries (!) and avocados (!!), I almost keeled over. Somebody pass me a chip!
Favorite Carb: Easy Grilled Spelt Flatbreads. I’m currently working on a tofu kabob recipe to share when summertime approaches and I have a feeling these healthy spelt flatbreads would make a mighty fine addition. Mmm hmmm.
Favorite Bowl of Green: Obsessively Good Avocado and Cucumber Salad. If Deb says it’s obsessively good then you know it is. Plus it just sounds amazing. Must have for all the spring picnics!
Favorite Low Carb Meal: 5 Delicious Low-Carb Recipes Starring Trader Joes Broccoli Slaw. Eating healthy doesn’t get much easier than this and the recipes look scrumptious too!
Favorite Wanderlust: 10 of the best places to hike in the United States. With warm weather just around the corner, I can feel myself getting the itch to start hiking again. I’ve heard Yosemite has some pretty awesome trails and I’m hoping we get a chance to make it there sometime this year.
Favorite Awwwww: 25 Wonderful Parenting Moments in the Animal World That Went Viral. There are no words, my friends. Just lots of warm, fuzzy feelings.
Favorite Purse: Jessie Dark Brown Crossbody Bag from PUT ON LOVE. I always try my best to avoid buying leather and other animal products so I was stoked when I found this super cute and affordable bag. I received it last week and I am so impressed with the quality! Plus the company donates 10% of their profits to helping women and children in need. <3
P.S. If you see something you like on their site, you can get 10% off by signing up for their email newsletter. <this is not sponsored, I just genuinely like the product.
Favorite Jewelry: Turquoise Spike Earrings. I’m ashamed to admit this but I went on a hunt for turquoise spike earrings after spotting Brit from The Bachelor wearing a pair that I really liked. I know, I’m pathetic. I found this pair on Etsy for less than $20 and the designer was kind enough to make the metal silver instead of gold for me. Score!
Favorite Beauty Product: Ciaté Double Lines Eyeliner. I have a new rule that when I run out of a cosmetic or skincare product, I have to replace it with something more natural and my newest addition is this dual-tipped eyeliner. I usually use both liquid and pencil liner for my eyes so I love that this one combines them both in one. It’s formulated without parabens, sulfates, and phthalates and the brand is cruelty-free.
Favorite Book: Wild by Cheryl Strayed. I know I’m a little late to the party but I started reading this last week and it is CRAZY good. There are some parts that aren’t exactly fun to read but wow, she is such a talented writer. I can’t wait to finish it and see if the movie does it justice!
Favorite Sandwich: Green Goddess Hummus Sandwich. If you guys aren’t already following this blog, you really need to check it out. Kate never fails to create recipes that are drool-worthy and 100% healthy, plus the pictures of her dog Cookie are incredibly cute. One of her most recent creations was this bad boy made with creamy green hummus and quick pickled veggies. It looks to-die-for!
Favorite Salad: Mango Wheat Berry and Arugula Salad with Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing. Arugula, or Rocket, hasn’t always been my favorite green but I have to admit it’s growing on me. I think it sounds amazing in this salad and I love the addition of plant-powered protein from the hemp seeds in the creamy dressing!
Favorite Dessert: Chewy Coconut Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. Oh man, what I wouldn’t give for one of these right now. They’re vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free and completely crave-worthy. My dream cookie…
Hi Sarah! Oh yay for your getaway! Have an amazing time relaxing and exploring! You deserve! :) Happy anniversary!
These are all awesome! I’m definitely checking out that salad. Have an AWESOME and well-deserved vacation!
Have a wonderful time in Carmel for your anniversary!! I’m glad you will be able to have some time away to unwind – you certainly deserve it!!
WOW, a year already?! Crazy! I can’t wait to see your recap of Carmel! Oh, and I am going to make that mango salsa for a neighborhood party this weekend!
Have a great trip! I am listening to WILD on audio book right now and it is pretty amazing!
I hope you have the most amazing time in Carmel, lady! I’m heading out to the mountains to [hopefully] get some good spring snowboarding in, so I’m looking forward to that as well. And omigosh those animals… there really are no words <3
Have a wonderful anniversary trip. I am so jealous; I want to go to Big Sur real bad. Take lots of pics!!
Cute purse; do you think it’d be good for Europe?
Happy Anniversary!!! Have so much fun in Carmel!!! Loving all these links!
Happy Anniversary enjoy your getaway. ok those cookies!! I need to give those a try and I will definitely buy the dual eye liner.
I can see why these made the favs list. You’ve got some good finds! :)
Happy Anniversary!
I love everything in this post! And now I want that bag. And all the food. And my heart melted with the tiger picture. The movie doesn’t do the book justice :( just had to let you know. I am right there with you- she is just so talented. There was just too much in the book to ever make the movie even remotely close. My pet peeve is when they change things that don’t even need to be changed, like in the movie Wild for instance (don’t worry I’m not giving away any spoilers, but you read the book anyways so highly unlikely that would happen!): they make it just the two children instead of three. If I were Cheryl that would have bothered me…or her sister. She just wasn’t even a creation in the movie!
Anyways, happy Friday and enjoy your weekend away. One year is a huge deal :)
Happy Anniversary!! Have an awesome trip :)
Happy almost Anniversary! You two are going to have a blast :) Nothing like a little relaxation and celebration in one trip.
Gosh, it seems like it was only yesterday that I looked at your weeding photos! Time flies (even in the blogosphere). Enjoy the weekend and offline time!
Love your wedding picture! It is just gorgeous. I saw this DIY Guide to Green Cleaning on the web I am found so helpful. I also like to avoid chemical laden products. And the earring are beautiful. Turquoise colour goes really well with your skin tone ;-)
Pretty sure I’m going to have to order that purse…I’ve been dying to get a new one and I love that one!!
Happy Anniversary! Have an amazing time in Carmel- one of my favorite places to visit! Those spelt flatbreads have my name on them, can’t wait to try them. I read wild over Christmas and loved every moment of it- I couldn’t get through it without crying a dozen times. Hope you love it too!
I hope you had a wonderful weekend celebrating your first anniversary. I love turquoise earrings myself and these are super pretty. I’ll be checking them out later on today.
Yaaaay I hope you and hubs had a magnificent weekend in Carmel!! And happy anniversary!!
Alright, now I’m inspired to hike and shop. Those 10 best places to hike are giving me a serious itch! Love Yosemite and Zion, and have just put Columbia River Gorge on my To Do list. So gorgeous! P.S. Gimme all that mango salsa!
Happy anniversary!!! I hope you are having a wonderful time and enjoying the time away!
PS that mango wheatberry salad looks soooo good! Making me hungry even though I just ate dinner! haha
Happy anniversary lady!! Hope that you guys are having a fabulous time in Carmel! That wedding photo is absolutely gorgeous :)
I love wearing turquoise jewelry! And I’m totally checking out the hiking and animal parenting photo articles right now…
Aww, happy anniversary! :D I hope you’re back, we all have noticed you’re missing, girl ;)
Happy wedding anniversary!! My husband and I are approaching our one-year too :) 2014 was a great year to get married, don’t you think? I hope you had an amazing time in Carmel – I’ve heard it’s gorgeous there. And I’m loving all those links you shared, especially that mango salsa!